Super Bowl LV on Sunday featured Tom Brady leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to victory as he earned the seventh Super Bowl ring of his near-perfect career. Brady defeated Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro quarterback Patrick Mahomes in what was his first sub-par performance in a big game. In Chicago, the Bears are currently trying to solve their quarterback dilemma by trading for a top-tier quarterback. Whether the Bears trade for Deshaun Watson, Carson Wentz, Sam Darnold, or Derek Carr, none of the quarterbacks will please Chicago fans in the long-term.

Quarterback Expectations change fluidly Every Year In Chicago

The Chicago Bears franchise is notorious for such great things as ferocious defenses, legendary running backs, and Hall of Fame linebackers. They are also infamously known for their futile quarterback play. Since the beginning of the Super Bowl era, Chicago has had only two quarterbacks named to the Pro Bowl just once. Both Jim McMahon in 1985 and Mitchell Trubisky in 2018 remain the only two Bears quarterbacks named to the Pro Bowl. Furthermore, the Bears have yet to have a quarterback throw over 30 touchdowns or pass for over 4,000 yards in a season. Although Chicago has failed to have consistently good quarterbacks, their fans have not helped the situation for the years as their expectations of their ideal quarterback change almost every season. When Brett Favre was in his prime with the Green Bay Packers, Bears fans clamored and yearned for a gunslinger quarterback with a fearless attitude. In 2008, Chicago traded for Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler who was viewed as being the next big quarterback in the NFL. https://youtu.be/12UU4xN49E0 Cutler checked all the boxes in what Chicago fans wanted in a quarterback. The Pro Bowl quarterback could make all the precise throws, had arguably the best arm in the NFL, was mobile, and had a no-nonsense attitude. Bears fans' joyous excitement for Cutler suddenly turned to frustration and hatred as the quarterback struggled with turnovers and inability to win. The attitude they loved about the former Broncos instantly served as a reason for contempt when the playoff wins and Super Bowl did not come within his first three seasons with the team.

After Cutler's departure in 2016, Bears fans wanted general manager Ryan Pace to finally solve Chicago's quarterback position once and for all in the 2017 NFL Draft. Pace made the blockbuster trade to move up one spot to select Mitchell Trubisky from North Carolina. Fans instantly hated the pick as many wanted the team to draft either Watson or Mahomes, even though Trubisky was regarded as the top quarterback prospect and was the first quarterback selected in many prominent mock drafts.

Although Trubisky has failed to live up to expectations, fans were all in on him following his 2018 Pro Bowl season, believing he had the potential to be an MVP candidate in 2019. Those positive beliefs from fans faded after the team's season-opening loss to the Green Bay Packers, in which the team failed to score a touchdown in a 10-3 final. Since then, a majority of fans have called Trubisky a bust, despite having somewhat average numbers.

Whoever The Team Trades For Will Still Not Be Good Enough For Fans

The shortcomings of Cutler and Trubisky have now brought the Bears to where they are now as they are involved in several different trade possibilities involving Pro Bowl quarterbacks. Whether the team trades for Watson, Wentz, or Carr, fans have already voiced their displeasure with and will find reasons to dislike the future starting quarterback for the Bears. Wentz, right now, appears to be the most likely candidate to be traded to Chicago, but Chicagoans are already disapproving of the possibility of the trade due to the quarterback's benching in Philadelphia this past season.

Darnold is viewed similarly to Wentz as he has failed to live up to his first-round draft selection as he has been unsuccessful with the New York Jet franchise. Carr, despite being named to several Pro Bowls, will be viewed as too old by fans, as he will be 30 years of age by the start of the 2021 season. Furthermore, if Chicago does acquire the Las Vegas quarterback, his tenure will be compared to Watson throw for throw.

Watson is the consensus favorite for Bears' fans right now, but if the team would somehow acquire the league leader in passing yards for this season, he would face the most scrutiny for a litany of reasons. The cost to trade for Watson and his massive contract would be several reasons why Bears' fans would instantly criticize his play if he falters and the team doesn't win immediately. Post-game criticism by fans after every loss that has been subjected towards Cutler, Trubisky, and others, would also be seen by Watson.

Bears' fans would even be able to find fault with Mahomes following his sub-par Super Bowl performance on Sunday if he was wearing a Bears' uniform. Despite his record-breaking seasons, multiple awards, and Super Bowl title, there would be a portion of Chicago fans that wouldn't be able to forgive the quarterback if he lost a Super Bowl for the Bears. Instead of writing Mahomes' bad game off as an off night, fans would hold the loss as a grudge against him for the rest of his career.

It is a sad reality that even with the Bears' organization trading for a quarterback that will be better than Trubisky, fans will still find a reason to hate the incoming quarterback. Chicago's favorite quarterback is always the backup or playing for the other team but instantly faces polarization once under center for the beloved Bears. Chicago fans will not be satisfied with a quarterback until one wins consecutive MVP awards and Super Bowl Titles, which may never happen again after Tom Brady retires.