Bears End of Year Awards: Picking MVP, Rookie of the Year and more
The Chicago Bears have wrapped another disappointing season where they finished 8-8 and had a quick playoff exit in the wild-card round. Looking back at the 2020 season, it felt like three seasons all rolled into one. From the 5-1 start to the six-game losing streak to the 3-1 finish and a postseason berth, it was certainly eventful.
As we look to close the page on the 2020 season, our Bears Wire staff share their picks for our End of Year Awards, including MVP, Offense and Defensive Players of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, Breakout Player of the Year and Most Disappointing Player.
Most Valuable Player
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Alyssa Barbieri: ILB Roquan Smith
The former No. 8 overall pick had an All-Pro year during his third season, where he was one of the league’s top inside linebackers. He finished in the top five among total tackles and tackles-for-loss. Smith was Chicago’s best defensive player -- and best player period -- which is hard to do with Khalil Mack on your team.
Brendan Sugrue: ILB Roquan Smith
When the Bears drafted Smith No. 8 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, they envisioned a superstar linebacker that could make plays all over the field. In his third season, Smith made that vision a reality. The young linebacker had an All-Pro caliber season, finishing with 139 total tackles, including 18 for a loss, one forced fumble and two interceptions. He was ranked top-five in nearly every statistical category and became one of the key leaders on the defense. At just 23 years old, he still hasn’t reached his peak and should continue to get better.
Greg Williams: ILB Roquan Smith
The Chicago Bears are known for having great linebackers. Well, they just found another one in Roquan Smith. In his third season, Smith has locked up an All-Pro selection but was robbed of making it to the Pro Bowl. Nonetheless, Smith put in the extra work this offseason and it has made him into one of the best defensive players in the league.
Ryan Fedrau: K Cairo Santos
Who else was as consistent as him? Santos now holds the record for most consecutive field goals as a Bears kicker, breaking the record Robbie Gould once held. The 29 year old kicker brought somewhat joy to Chicago, finally fixing their kicking situation. The Bears struggled so much on both sides of the ball, where no player showed as much consistency at their position as Santos did. Without Santos, the Bears didn’t have 8 wins. In fact, they don’t start 5-1.
Nick Shepkowski: ILB Roquan Smith
Smith looked the part of a former top-ten NFL draft pick as he finished sixth in the entire NFL in tackles. He had shown flashes in his first two seasons but this was a complete year where Smith was a star the entire way and rightfully earned second team All-Pro honors.
Offensive Player of the Year
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Alyssa Barbieri: WR Allen Robinson
It’s difficult to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in the NFL. but it’s even more difficult to do so in one of the league’s worst offenses. Robinson has been the Bears’ best offensive player over the last two years, and he proved exactly why week after week. Too bad the Bears’ organization failed to realize it and give the man his well-deserved contract extension.
Brendan Sugrue: WR Allen Robinson
From start to finish, Robinson was the team’s best and most consistent player on offense. He was easily the team’s leading receiver for a third-straight year, compiling 1,250 yards with 102 receptions and six touchdowns. All with below-average quarterback play while trying to balance a contract year too. Unfortunately, this could have been the final time we see Robinson don the navy and orange since he’s still somehow without a long-term extension. His 2020 season just validates how valuable he really is.
Greg Williams: WR Allen Robinson
Another season goes by and I wonder, “Where would this offense be without Allen Robinson?” Everyone knows Robinson is the only elite weapon on offense and he still put up an elite season. It’s a shame that the Bears couldn’t get a contract done with Robinson, because now it seems like he’s going somewhere else. Regardless if Robinson stays or goes, he has made a case to be one of the wide receivers deserving to be in that top-five category.
Ryan Fedrau: WR Allen Robinson
For the third year in a row, Allen Robinson was the Bears top wide out and both quarterbacks favorite target. Like Mitchell Trubisky says, even when he’s not open, he’s open. Despite having a mini streak of the ball being stripped out of his hands for interceptions, there were little to no mistakes he made this season. Robinson is a top free agent this offseason. If he leaves the Bears, it’ll be a crushing blow to their offense.
Nick Shepkowski: WR Allen Robinson
In terms of weapons he was the one. The Bears continue to have some interesting gadgets and toys on offense but Robinson was the one playmaker they could consistently rely on all year.
Defensive Player of the Year
AP Photo/Kyusung Gong
Alyssa Barbieri: ILB Roquan Smith
While there’s no denying Mack’s importance to the Bears, Smith played himself into a role that also made him essential to this defense. He wasn’t just the best inside linebacker on the Bears but one of the best in the entire NFL, despite the lack of recognition. Smith’s importance was felt with his absence in Chicago’s final two games -- after suffering an injury early against the Packers -- which was a devastating blow to the defense.
Brendan Sugrue: ILB Roquan Smith
On a defense with Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, Eddie Jackson, Kyle Fuller, and more, Smith rose above them all to become the team’s defensive player of the year. Wherever the football was, Smith would be too, swarming to the ball carrier whether they were five yards upfield or in their own backfield. Despite not being recognized as a Pro Bowler or All-Pro linebacker, Smith and his teammates know how special he is. His arrow is pointing sky high.
Greg Williams: ILB Roquan Smith
I wanted to pick another Bears player since Smith was the Bears MVP of season, but the season Smith had was just too good. You could make an argument for other players deserving the defensive player of the year award for the Bears, but none of them is more deserving than Smith. However, there were a lot of disappointments on defense that really made this an easy decision.
Ryan Fedrau: ILB Roquan Smith
For one reason or another, Roquan Smith was snubbed from the Pro Bowl and first team All-Pro. Either way, he had a fantastic season. Smith led the Bears in tackles and made a big jump from Year 2 to Year 3. I noticed a lot of solid play from Smith and a guy who the defense missed in the playoffs. Smith is slowly becoming one of the best linebackers in football and is going under the radar while doing it. I’m excited to see how he improves from Year 3 to Year 4. There’s a lot to like here, he’s a special player and a great draft pick.
Nick Shepkowski: DT Akiem Hicks
You could easily make the case for Roquan Smith who was also great but to me Hicks made life on Smith significantly easier this season after missing so much of 2019. Hicks hit opposing quarterbacks 21 times in 2020, easily the most of any Bear.
Rookie of the Year
USA Today
Alyssa Barbieri: CB Jaylon Johnson
Johnson was the seventh cornerback selected in the 2020 NFL Draft -- and he showed everyone exactly why that was a joke. He had an immediate impact in Chicago’s secondary, where he led the NFL in pass breakups at one point. Despite missing the final four games of the regular season with a shoulder injury, Johnson’s contributions on defense as a rookie from Week 1 made him the best rookie cornerback in his draft class.
Brendan Sugrue: WR Darnell Mooney
The 2020 rookie class for the Bears got off to a strong start, but it was Mooney who opened everyone’s eyes and played a key role on the offense from start to finish. A fifth-round rookie out of Tulane, Mooney needed just one game to show he deserved more playing time. Finishing the season with 61 catches for 631 yards and four touchdowns, the rookie was entrenched as the team’s WR2 and was a vital player down the stretch, having his best game of the season in week 17 before getting injured. Mooney showed the ability to play all over the field and will be a huge asset in 2021, especially if Robinson ends up leaving Chicago in free agency.
Greg Williams: WR Darnell Mooney
In a season where everything seemed to go wrong for the Bears, they did the right thing in taking Darnell Mooney in the fifth-round with the 173rd overall pick. GM Ryan Pace has had his way picking in the later rounds, but it’s good to know the Bears found an explosive WR2. However, if Allen Robinson were to depart from Chicago and the Bears can’t land a top-end WR, who knows if Mooney can take that WR1 step.
Ryan Fedrau: CB Jaylon Johnson
Jaylon Johnson was the Bears defensive steal in the draft. Between him and Darnell Mooney, it was hard to pick but Johnson really helped improve the passing defense of the Bears. He seemed to be that missing piece on defense and showed that there’s a lot of potential for Johnson to be a shutdown corner in the NFL. It’s early in his career, but Jaylon Johnson looks like another solid defensive pick from Ryan Pace. It’ll be interesting to see if he makes a big jump into Year 2 or if he has a sophomore slump. Either way, I’m expecting a long, successful career for #33.
Nick Shepkowski: CB Jaylon Johnson
The second round pick was a quote-machine early in the season but had the play to back it up as he finished with 15 pass deflections despite missing three games. An impressive debut for Johnson.
Comeback Player of the Year
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Alyssa Barbieri: ILB Roquan Smith
After an elbow injury shortened a promising 2019 season, Smith came back with a vengeance. Smith made the desired jump in his third season, where he wasn’t just the best linebacker on the Bears, but he was one of the NFL’s best inside linebackers, despite a lack of recognition on the All-Pro and Pro Bowl front. Smith did miss the Bears’ playoff game, but he showcased what he’s capable of during a full-season run.
Brendan Sugrue: TE Jimmy Graham
To say the signing of Graham this past offseason was universally panned is an understatement. Many around the league believed Graham was overpaid and over the hill, unable to be a key cog on the Bears offense. But the veteran tight end showed he still had some tricks up his sleeve. The 34-year old bounced back from a subpar season with the Green Bay Packers to lead the team in receiving touchdowns with eight. Those eight scores were good enough for a fourth-place tie in the league at the tight end position. He also brought much-needed stability to a lackluster position following the 2019 season. Graham wasn’t the most dynamic weapon the Bears had, but when they dialed up his number to get them into the endzone, he answered the call quite a bit.
Greg Williams: DT Akiem Hicks
After playing in five games in 2019, Hicks stormed out of the gates in the 2020 season. You can easily tell Hicks was ready to go and made a huge difference in the defense. In the first three games, Hicks recorded 3.5 sacks. However, he couldn’t record a sack after that third game. Nonetheless, Hicks still played a valuable role in the defense that was deeply missed last season.
Ryan Fedrau: QB Mitchell Trubisky
Trubisky not only bounced back from 2019, he saved the jobs of Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy. There’s a good chance he’s out of Chicago, but he deserves credit for how well he played under adversity. Trubisky being benched could have been the end of his Bears career, but he came back and played with more confidence than he ever has. 17 TDs (16 passing, 1 rushing) in 9 games, with a 6-3 record as a starter, was a big improvement from his struggles in 2019. I honestly believe this team would have had 10 wins if Trubisky wasn’t benched. He is a much better athlete and a better quarterback than Nick Foles. That enough should have gotten Matt Nagy fired. If Trubisky plays all 16 games, he’s close to a 4,000 yard passer and breaks his career high in touchdown passes.
Nick Shepkowski: ILB Roquan Smith
A year ago Smith dealt with issues that kept him off the field and left Bears fans wondering about his future. 2020 saw him silence virtually any remaining questions and the second he went out against Green Bay in Week 17 you saw how significant the dropoff from him is.
Breakout Player of the Year
AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn
Alyssa Barbieri: RB David Montgomery
Montgomery wasn’t terrible in 2019, but he wasn’t sensational either. Which had more to do with Chicago’s issues on offense. Halfway through the season, when the Bears worked out the kinks on the offensive line and actually committed to the run, Montgomery burst onto the scene. He was one of the league’s best backs over the final stretch of the season. Montgomery finished top five in rushing yards (1,070) and scrimmage yards (1,508), and his future is certainly bright in Chicago -- assuming Nagy runs the ball in 2021.
Brendan Sugrue: DT Bilal Nichols
There are quite a few answers for this award, but I’m giving it to Nichols, one of the most important pieces on the defense this season. Following the news that nose tackle Eddie Goldman would opt out of the season due to COVID-19, a gaping hole on the defensive line was created. Nichols stepped up to fill it and didn’t disappoint. He finished the year with five sacks, behind only Khalil Mack who had nine. Nichols also had 40 total tackles, including seven for a loss, and one interception. He played well with Akiem Hicks and proved he could slide in at the nose tackle position. With Goldman coming back, though, Nichols will likely return to the defensive end position. But what he learned this season will propel him to new heights.
Greg Williams: RB David Montgomery
Montgomery had a solid start to the season, but his game didn’t get the attention of others until the end of the season. It took until Week 8 for the Bears to realize that maybe Montgomery is good and he should be getting more touches after a 21 carry game for 89 yards against the New Orleans Saints. In the final six games Montgomery averaged 99.7 yards per game, 5.16 yards per carry and recorded seven touchdowns.
Ryan Fedrau: RB David Montgomery
When you say Breakout Player of the Year, the name David Montgomery has to come to your mind. Going into Year 2, I questioned if he’d get enough carries to be the Number 1 running back. He carried the ball 247 times (5 more than 2019) while averaging 4.3 yards per carry. That’s amazing for a running back. Now, the injury to Tarik Cohen was a major part of Montgomery being the Number 1 running back in Chicago, but he did not disappoint. Rushing for 1,070 yards and 8 touchdowns was the majority of the rushing game for Chicago. Matt Nagy has to feature Montgomery and other backs next season. A total of 1,647 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns isn’t winning football. In 2021, the Bears need to run the ball more and David Montgomery has to be their feature back.
Nick Shepkowski: WR Darnell Mooney
He’s my runner up for rookie of the year but after missing on receivers like the Bears have in the draft under Ryan Pace, Mooney looked like a part of the future despite coming from the fifth round.
Most Disappointing Player of the Year
AP Photo/Danny Karnik
Alyssa Barbieri: EDGE Robert Quinn
Considering the amount of money thrown Quinn’s way and his performance, Quinn was easily one of Ryan Pace’s worst free-agent signings in his five years as general manager. We’ll see if Quinn rebounds in 2021 -- which shouldn’t be too hard -- but he felt like wasted money, especially as Leonard Floyd was lighting it up for the Rams on a more affordable contract.
Brendan Sugrue: S Eddie Jackson
It’s easy to say any of the quarterbacks, Robert Quinn, or Anthony Miller are deserving in this spot, but Jackson has been nothing short of a spectacular disappointment since signing his new deal last offseason. Jackson became a liability in coverage, coming nowhere near his 2018 or 2019 coverage stats. While he got his hands on the football this year, all of his potential interceptions were called back due to penalty. He also demonstrated a concerning display of tackling during numerous games. The former All-Pro safety must find a way to turn things around and return to his 2018 and 2019 level of play. Otherwise, his contract extension could become one of the worst deals in franchise history.
Greg Williams: Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace
Yes, I know Nagy and Pace aren’t players, but these two are the biggest disappointments of the season. Nagy’s offense failed for the majority of the season, went through two starting quarterbacks and had to give up play calling. In the offseason, Pace failed to address the offensive line, messed up on the Robert Quinn signing and missed on the Nick Foles trade. These two were on thin ice throughout the season and somehow they’ll be back for another year.
Ryan Fedrau: QB Nick Foles
Nick Foles started off his Bears career on a roll. Foles helped lead a big comeback against the Falcons and then won 2 of his first 3 starts. He upset the Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football and then beat the Panthers. After that, he would lose 4 straight games and look like a less athletic Caleb Hanie. Foles had a great career in Philly, but has been terrible everywhere else. That includes Chicago. A 2-5 record as a starter and eventually being benched should have ended his short career in Chicago, but he is likely going to be award the starting job next season with Trubisky being forced out of town. Foles was a disappointment as a quarterback, as he was supposed to be the savor of the Bears. He never was. Just remember, Nagy is 3-7 as a head coach without Mitchell Trubisky as his starting quarterback. Expect more losses and a potential firing if Foles is the quarterback next season.
Nick Shepkowski: EDGE Robert Quinn
Robert Quinn recorded two more sacks than I did this season. He was also paid roughly $14 million dollars more than me. He was supposed to help bring the Bears defense back to elite but instead was a huge reason they regressed again.
