The Mike Glennon signing, financial costs aside, was viewed as a solid enough move for GM Ryan Pace and the Chicago Bears. If nothing else the veteran former backup was a good first step away from the Jay Cutler era. He brought decent ability and 18 starts worth of experience. Sure $18.5 million guaranteed sounds excessive but not when compared to others. It’s basically right around the league average.

Most began to assume the team would roll with him for 2017. They’d use this year to continue filling out the roster. Then they’d likely pursue their QB of the future in 2018. Seems Pace didn’t get that memo. He was too busy executing a flawless subterfuge in the draft to grab North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky.

Instantly the same question was shouted over and over. “Well if they always planned to draft Trubisky, why in the hell did they pay so much money to sign Glennon?” There are a number of reasons. For one Glennon is far from a sure thing as a starter. He did go 5-13 in that role with Tampa Bay. The Bears have no reason to assume he’ll be a lot better this time around. Drafting Trubisky is a smart insurance move.

That’s not the only reason though. It’s becoming clear there might’ve been another, and it’s all sorts of savvy by Pace.

Mike Glennon signing provides a template for Trubisky to learn

His primary job is to win football games in 2017. Glennon didn’t sign his contract to mentor Trubisky. That’s fair, but it’s a job he’s already doing whether intentional or not. One thing the Bears learned about Glennon in their exhaustive research since last year is that he’s the ideal teammate. He works hard, is unselfish and pushes others to do and be the same. Like any good leader would.

Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times confirmed many of these traits in action during this offseason.

The day before veteran receiver Victor Cruz signed his Bears contract, he got a call from his soon-to-be new quarterback, Mike Glennon. “He wanted to have dinner and talk a little bit,” Cruz said. He organized workouts and throwing sessions with teammates at Deerfield High School before the offseason program began. He treated teammates to a Bulls game. And with Trubisky present, Glennon remains a prominent voice during workouts and in practices. “He’s been pushing everybody,” running back Jordan Howard said. “When he sees people are down or dropping pads, he comes up to them and tells them, ‘Next play’ or, ‘Keep your head up’ and things like that. Even in our workouts, he’s just telling us to keep pushing and [making sure] everyone works hard.”

Learning to be a pro QB isn’t just about the Xs and Os

People often make the mistake of thinking that being a great quarterback comes down to understand schemes, throwing accurate passes and having good reflexes. Those are all important but still just the tip of the iceberg. Look at Tom Brady, Drew Brees and others and ask why they’re great, teammates won’t reference those first. More often than not it’s the command in the huddle and leadership off the field that they gravitate towards.

This was often a problem references about Jay Cutler. Nobody doubted his work ethic, talent or toughness. The issue was he didn’t have the charisma or sociability to lead. One former teammate claimed he “thought other people were idiots.” It’s easy to understand how that might rub a lot of guys the wrong way, and why execution offensively was so hit-and-miss.

By signing Glennon the Bears have provided the ideal template for Trubisky to learn from. Somebody who is a down-to-earth family man that works hard and never stops encouraging those around him to be better. Trubisky has the physical tools to succeed in the NFL. What he needs to learn is how to operate within a professional locker room and ultimately how to take it over.

In essence the Bears spent $18.5 million on a private tutor to show him exactly how it’s done.