Bears Were Preparing To Make A Run At Ben Roethlisberger

Things were almost so different for the Chicago Bears at quarterback prior to their fateful move up in the draft for Justin Fields. It's well-documented they made a determined push to trade for Russell Wilson back in March. One that came so close to fruition before Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll ultimately turned their offer down. From there, everybody just fast-forwards through the Andy Dalton signing to the Fields moment. What many don't realize is one name almost interjected into the conversation. Ben Roethlisberger. Yes, really. People forget the future Hall of Famer was at odds with the Pittsburgh Steelers due to his hefty contract. The team had salary cap problems and it was genuinely uncertain if they'd be able to keep him. Some speculated Pittsburgh might have no choice but to move on. Tyler Dunne of Go Long has it on good authority that if that had happened? The Bears planned to be active in his pursuit.

"The Steelers were a sneaky variable. If they decided to cut ties with future Hall-of-Famer Ben Roethlisberger, the Bears would’ve been interested in adding the 39-year-old."

That is what desperation looks like.

It isn't hard to see the logic in such a move. Despite his advanced age, Roethlisberger still had a productive 2020 and led his team to the playoffs. He threw for over 3,803 yards with 33 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. If nothing else, he could've bought Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace more time to secure their jobs. In the end? Roethlisberger and the Steelers brass managed to reach an agreement on a reworked contract, allowing him to stay in Pittsburgh. It's fascinating to wonder how things might've played out had he somehow ended up in Chicago. Would Pace and Nagy still have gone after Fields in the draft the next month? That feels unlikely. Investing resources in maximizing Roethlisberger's remaining window would've been the play. They could worry about a long-term option at quarterback in 2022. Hopefully, after a playoff run that resulted in likely contract extensions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOSamgzYi9s&ab_channel=ThePatMcAfeeShowThePatMcAfeeShow

Ben Roethlisberger staying put altered Bears' fate

It is difficult not to think Chicago would've been a prime landing spot for him. Such an easy connection to make. They had a playoff-ready roster with a star receiver in Allen Robinson. An offensive line that had improved over the course of 2020. An offensive-minded head coach in Matt Nagy with a QB-friendly system. Sprinkle in some eventual help via the draft? That would've been an easy sell. Ultimately Ben Roethlisberger couldn't see himself out of a Steelers uniform. Totally respect that. Such a decision ended up reverberating across the league. With he and Wilson going off the table, the Bears' plans were set in motion. They signed Andy Dalton to a one-year deal as insurance and somebody they can trust to start this season. Then they shifted their attention to the draft. One month later, Justin Fields happened.

Is it a blessing in disguise that Roethlisberger stayed put?

Time will tell. Yet the early indications on the new Bears rookie have led to serious excitement about the future. What makes this even more fun is Chicago will visit Pittsburgh later this season. That should be a fun subplot to discuss the week of the game. Remember that time Roethlisberger almost became a serious QB target for the Bears? This is why the NFL offseason is so crazy.