Five things for Bears fans to know about Nick Foles
The Bears attempted to answer their most vexing offseason question Wednesday, agreeing to acquire veteran QB Nick Foles from the Jacksonville Jaguars for a fourth-round compensatory draft pick (No. 140 overall) to "push" embattled starter Mitch Trubisky.
Here are 5 things to know about the 31-year-old Foles, who'll play for his fifth team as he enters Year 9 in the NFL:
1. He was on the receiving end in Super Bowl LII of the famous "Philly Special" trick play that helped the Eagles secure their first Lombardi Trophy and Foles earn Super Bowl MVP honors. And he could now be reunited with that play's triggerman, Bears TE Trey Burton, assuming Burton remains in the team's plans after it agreed to pay Jimmy Graham $16 million over the next two seasons, with $9 million guaranteed. Regardless, he'll reunite with a trio of former coaches - Bill Lazor (new Bears offensive coordinator who was the Eagles QB coach in 2016), John DeFilippo (new Bears QB coach who was Eagles QB coach in 2017 and Jaguars offensive coordinator last season) and Matt Nagy.
2. Foles' yeoman work in relief of an injured Carson Wentz in the 2017-18 postseason is the stuff of legend. He totaled 7 touchdowns and only 1 interception, with a 72.6 completion percentage, 9.2-yard attempt average and 115.7 rating, out-dueling former MVP Matt Ryan and slaying the G.O.A.T. Tom Brady's Patriots in the Super Bowl. But Foles also thrashed the NFL's top third-down defense, Minnesota, in the NFC Championship game; the Eagles were a blistering 26-of-43 (60.4 percent) on the money down during those playoffs. Foles also led Philly to three wins in the final four regular-season games to clinch the division.
3. Although his career started in spectacular fashion, setting then-NFL records for passer rating (119.2) and TD-INT ratio (27:2) in Year 2 with the Eagles, it's certainly included some turbulence. Foles was in his second stint with Philadelphia for that Super Bowl run, preceded by a failed one-year starting opportunity with Jeff Fisher's Rams, who acquired him via trade for Sam Bradford. Foles also spent a year holding the clipboard for Kansas City Chiefs starter Alex Smith and then-offensive coordinator Matt Nagy prior to resurfacing with the Eagles, but not before briefly contemplating retirement.
4. Foles began his collegiate career at Michigan State, backing up ex-Bears QB Brian Hoyer. However, Foles saw the writing on the wall with 2007 classmate Kirk Cousins readying to take the starting reins and transferred to Arizona, where he compiled a school-record 10,000 passing yards and 67 touchdowns in two-plus seasons. He led the Wildcats to a pair of bowl appearances, too, but Foles only went 4-8 in his final season, during which coach Mike Stoops was fired.
5. Foles' leadership and communication skills are as revered by his ex-Eagles teammates as his clutch postseason performance. He penned a biography, "Believe It," after winning the Super Bowl and reportedly had a way of relating to various teammates, from his famous Bulletproof coffee to his unwavering attitude.