Fans and the media continue to voice their displeasure with the Chicago Bears' signing of quarterback Andy Dalton as the fallback plan to not trading for Russell Wilson. General manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy have faced harsh criticism for the team's search to find a quarterback for the 2021 season. Now that it appears to set that the team has settled on Dalton as their bridge quarterback while potentially targeting a quarterback in the draft, the situation is eerily familiar to where the franchise was in 2003.

The 2003 Bears Wanted to Find Their Elite Quarterback Via Free Agency

Following a disappointing 2002 season where the team lost 12 games and started three quarterbacks, then general manager Jerry Angelo's goal in the offseason was to correct the quarterback position. Angelo looked towards free agency first as the team did have money to spend on an available quarterback. Several Pro Bowl quarterbacks were available in free agency, including Jake Plummer, Brian Griese, Kordell Stewart, and Jeff Blake. The Bears' main target was Plummer, who was seen as the best of the available quarterbacks due to his mobility and deep-ball accuracy. Griese was the team's second option, given his accuracy and efficient play at the position. Although Angelo and the Bears made an aggressive attempt at both free-agent quarterbacks, they did not sign either and settled for their third option in Stewart. Stewart had the most playoff experience out of all the quarterbacks available as he had played in two AFC Championship games in the prior six years and was the most versatile of the group. The mobile quarterback struggled with accuracy and turnovers during his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, which led to his benching in 2002. Stewart joined 38-year old Chris Chandler as the Bears' quarterbacks as Angelo then turned to the draft to find a long-term solution for the position.

The Bears Got Their First Round Quarterback In an Unconventional way

Heading into the 2003 NFL Draft, The Bears held the fourth overall selection with multiple top prospect quarterbacks available. Quarterback Carson Palmer was the first selection of the draft, while quarterbacks Bryon Leftwich, Kyle Boller, and Rex Grossman remained available. Angelo, who had wanted to maximize the value of the Bears' number four selection, traded their pick to the Jets to acquire the 13th and 22nd picks in the first round. The team missed on Leftwich and following another trade to move back to the 14th selection, Chicago drafted defensive end Michael Haynes from Penn State.

Chicago would use the 22nd overall selection on quarterback Rex Grossman from Florida, as prospects were high on the quarterback due to his strong arm. Head coach Dick Jauron and offensive coordinator John Shoop had their quarterbacks in Stewart, Chandler, and Grossman with the plan of having the first-round quarterback sit for the season. The decision would prove costly as the team struggled immediately out of the gate as the coaching staff already on the hot seat to start the season appeared as if they would let go before the season's end. Stewart was the team's Week 1 starter and turned in a three-interception game in which he passed for 96 yards in a 49-7 blowout against the San Francisco 49ers. His play would not improve as he threw four touchdowns to seven interceptions while being sacked 18 times in the team's first five games. Stewart was benched after Week 5 as the team got off to a 1-4 start in favor of Chandler. The 38-year old quarterback would be a bit better but still struggled to have consistent scoring drives on offense. Chandler would start the next six games as the team went 3-3 as he would throw three touchdowns to six interceptions. https://youtu.be/FmC76v4t22g Grossman would finally start in week 15 after the team was eliminated from the playoffs following a 38-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers the week prior. He played well, winning his first two starts, which included a last-minute drive that set up a game-winning field goal as time expired against the Washington Redskins in Week 16. https://youtu.be/JsIOFp-KR3U The season finale against the Kansas City Chiefs would sum up the Bears' quarterback situation in 2003 as all three quarterbacks saw playing time due to a finger injury suffered by Grossman. The three quarterbacks would combine for 198 passing yards in a 31-3 loss. Jauron and his staff were fired a few days later as the team finished with a 7-9 record while many fans and the media questioned why they didn't start Grossman sooner as he looked ready to start earlier in the season.

Despite Quarterback Situations Being The Same, The Current Bears Still Have A Chance To Be Better

Although the 2003 Bears' quarterbacks combined for 12 touchdowns and 20 interceptions, they still managed to win seven games, four of which were by eight points or more. The team had one of the worst offensive lines early on as they allowed 43 on the season. The defense, despite having Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Charles Tilman, and Mike Brown, struggled at times during the season. The 2021 Bears already have a better defense and offensive line in place and should get better quarterback play from Dalton, Nick Foles, and whichever quarterback they take in the draft.

The 2003 team servers as a reminder of the worst-case scenario from a quarterback standpoint for the 2021 Bears. Pace and Nagy can still improve the rest of the team through free agency and the draft to where Dalton, Foles, or a rookie quarterback will have the best chance to be successful. If the 2003 team won seven games with Stewart, Chandler, and a rookie in Grossman, this year's Bears team could make the playoffs again with what they have in place now.