For most of the 2016 season, running back Jordan Howard was about the old good thing about the Chicago Bears. Watching this organization fall into such a state of decay and disrepair over the course of a decade was beyond difficult. Watching Howard emerge to become the focal point of the offense was a nice silver lining if nothing else.
To think he was a castoff from the now defunct University of Alabama-Birmingham football program is hard to imagine. It almost looked like the NFL wasn't even in the cards for him. Then he transferred to Indiana, put up a good season and became a fifth round pick for the Bears in the draft. Now he's considered one of the rising stars in the league.
His value to the franchise doesn't stop with that though. Howard is a gifted young man in terms of physical skill. Big, strong, great vision, and deceptively athlete. Those are of course vital to his continued individual success. That said it's not what makes him great for the team. Those attributes lay elsewhere, and are growing in scope every day.
SETTING A STANDARD
One would think Howard should be happy about how his season ended up. He finished second in the NFL in rushing and made his first Pro Bowl. That's quite the accomplishment for somebody who came from such humble beginning. Yet when talking to the 22-year old, it feels more like a failure. Why? At the end of the day his primary goal wasn't achieved. Howard has made it clear from the beginning that it's not about stats or accolades with him. All he wants to do is win football games.“I wasn’t really paying attention to that. I was just coming into the game to try and get a win. …. At the end of the day, I would trade it all for wins.”People struggle to understand the level of maturity and competitiveness that must go into a man when he says stuff like that. By rights Howard should be acting like a kid. Technically he still is one. He should be focused on adjusting to adult life and being able to spend his own money for the first time. Instead he carries himself like a humble, tireless worker. He accepts blame during bad days and passes off praise when he excels. It's players like this that make a team better. Not just because of talent, but leadership and setting an expectation. [video width="854" height="480" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Jordan-Howard-Tears-Through-Vikings-Defense-for-153-Yards-Week-8-Highlights-NFL.mp4"][/video] There were many times that Howard could've complained he wasn't getting the ball enough this past season. Hell, fans were doing it for him almost constantly on social media. He never did though. He kept his mouth shut and did as he was asked. A true soldier in the best sense of the word. Perhaps his maturity comes from having to deal with the death of his father at such a young age. He grew up faster than other players, and gained some perspective.
EYES ON THE PRIZE
That's why his goals are already set so high. He doesn't want to just win more games. He openly admitted that his desires for Chicago rest nowhere short of a championship as he told Chicago Sun-Times reporter Patrick Finley.IF THE ROOKIE NEEDED ANY FURTHER DESIRE TO HELP TURN HIS TEAM AROUND, THIS POSTSEASON HAS PROVIDED IT. “IT MAKES ME WANT TO PLAY IN THE GAME A LOT,” HE SAID. “ESPECIALLY JUST WATCHING THE PLAYOFF GAMES.” “I’m very excited about the opportunities,” he said. “We had a lot of turnover on the coaching staff, but I feel like we’re going to get the job done.”No player has really delivered this kind of quiet demand in his team. Not since Brian Urlacher retired. In many ways Jordan Howard emulates Walter Payton. He'll fight for his teammates every single game. There is nothing wrong with him expecting the same in return. It may not seem like it yet, but this is the kind of presence the Bears have been waiting for.
