Will Trevathan emerge as Bears' defensive leader?

BOURBONNAIS — When the Bears signed inside linebacker Danny Trevathan to a four-year, $24.5 million deal in March, they knew were getting an ascending player with play-making ability.

Just as important, they also were looking for a leader to build their defense and their team around.

The Bears haven't had a winning season since 2012, when the defense boasted elite leaders such as linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs and cornerback Charles Tillman. But all three are long gone, creating a void in leadership.

Enter the 6-foot-1, 239-pound Trevathan, just 26 years old and in his first year with a new team. Maybe that's not the ideal situation to come into and take over, but Trevathan brings the experience of having played on two Super Bowl teams with the Denver Broncos. In both of those seasons, 2013 and 2015, Trevathan was the Broncos' leading tackler.

But it's more than his production on the field that portends a leadership role for the active, energetic and personable Trevathan.

“He's just got this great energy to him,” Bears general manager Ryan Pace said. “He just lights up a room. The practices are energized because of him. People just kind of feed off him, and the more of those guys we can have the better. He just brings the energy levels up.”

Trevathan isn't naturally a rah-rah guy and isn't interested in projecting a phony, holler-guy facade. But he's comfortable leading in his own way and ready to sound off if that's required.

“I'm more of an example leader,” he said. “This year I've taken on being more vocal but still being myself. I like that. I'm having fun out here with these guys.”

The emotion that Trevathan exudes on the field is legitimate, though, and it comes easily — sometimes too easily.

“Sometimes I get too emotional,” he said. “That comes from me being so passionate about the game. I want the best for each and every one of these guys, and I want the best for this team.”

Call it culture change or attitude adjustment, but the Bears need to do things differently after missing the playoffs eight times in the last nine seasons. Their last trip to the postseason was in 2010, and last year's 1-7 home record was the worst in franchise history.

Trevathan is unfamiliar with the kind of losing the Bears have experienced in the previous two seasons, when they were a combined 11-21. In his four years in Denver, the first three when John Fox was the head coach, the Broncos were 50-14 in the regular season and went to the playoffs every season.

Guard Kyle Long, one of the Bears' offensive leaders, says Trevathan has earned a leadership role by what he's already accomplished, even if it came with another team.

“Danny's kind of a quiet guy,” Long said, “but he's one of those guys that has an aura about him. He walks in, and he's got his chains on and he looks sharp every day, like he just left a video shoot or something. Danny's won before. He's won a (darn) Super Bowl, and he played at a very high level. We love having Danny here.”

Bears veteran cornerback Tracy Porter was teammates with Trevathan in Denver when the linebacker was a rookie sixth-round pick out of Kentucky, the year before he became a starter. But Porter says Trevathan's potential was obvious.

“I'm not an NFL scout by no means,” Porter said. “But the way he played and the way he caught on to the game as a young guy, I said to myself, ‘One day he's going to go somewhere and get paid because he has the talent, he has all the ability in the world and he's just eager to learn.'

“Couple years later, here he is in Chicago making an impact for us.”

Trevathan is being counted on to help bring back a winning attitude to Halas Hall, and he has a simple plan to do so.

“I'm all about attitude and hustle and just playing ball,” Trevathan said. “I don't care what happened before. You can always make up for it — just go 100 miles per hour and have fun. This game is short. Your attitude carries over to the team. There's a lot of time when a team's down and you put your head down. I hate that.

“Even if we're down, we're going to fight until the end. That's what it's all about, having that band of brothers and that attitude and going out there and battling together.”

Trevathan was amused early in camp when Long mentioned that he wears cologne and smells good on the field but will surprise blockers with his aggressive play.

“You get caught up in the aroma,” Long said, “and you get hit under the chin.”

That's a Trevathan trait that he says has already caught on with teammates.

“I take pride in smelling good,” the linebacker said. “And it's starting to spread. I just know it's smelling good all around. Everybody's got a bottle on them. So (according to Long) I'm supposed to lure them to sleep and then get up under their chin.”

Behind Trevathan's leadership, the underrated Bears hope they can sneak up on opponents the same way this season and deliver a surprise punch in the mouth.

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