CHICAGO (670 The Score) -- When his anticipated and slightly awkward return to Soldier Field was over, former Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky was one of the last to leave for the locker room.
Now the Bills' backup quarterback, Trubisky shared embraces with Bears quarterbacks Andy Dalton, Justin Fields and Nick Foles. He met with coach Matt Nagy and members of his staff. And as Trubisky walked toward the stadium's northeast tunnel, he even felt a warm reception from a fan base that experienced the highs and lows of the last four years as he led the way.
Trubisky shined in his return to Chicago, finishing 20-of-28 for 220 yards and a touchdown in the Bills' 41-15 win over the Bears. Two quarters in a preseason game don't rewrite the script from four seasons and 51 games in Chicago, but it at least allowed the 27-year-old Trubisky to have some closure to his tenure with the Bears.
"It felt good to do it against these guys," Trubisky said. "But I'm also rooting for a lot of those guys on the other side. They're still like family to me."
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The Bears believed Trubisky was their future franchise quarterback when they traded up to the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and selected him over Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson.
Ultimately, it didn't work for Trubisky and the Bears. He was inconsistent while the team struggled to build an offense around him. While Mahomes won a Super Bowl and earned MVP honors and Watson rose to stardom on the field, Trubisky had his fifth-year option declined for 2021 and was allowed to walk into free agency this past March.
"It would not be fair to put everything on him," Nagy said of Trubisky. "There's a lot of things that went into that.
"He's a resilient guy, and he's going to do everything he can to have a successful career."
The Bills signed Trubisky to a one-year deal this offseason to serve as the backup behind Pro Bowl quarterback Josh Allen. The interest in him in Buffalo stemmed in part from offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who believed in Trubisky's fit in his system in addition to the potential he flashed in Chicago.
With Allen resting Saturday, the Bills allowed Trubisky to show off against his former team. Daboll called plays in a tempo offense -- something Nagy often struggled to do despite the comfort Trubisky felt in that style -- and allowed him to air it out. Trubisky led Buffalo to a 34-6 halftime lead before sitting out the second half. Though it was an exhibition and the statistics don't count, Trubisky certainly had a day to enjoy.
The Bears turned the page at quarterback by signing the veteran Dalton and trading up to select the rookie Fields with the No. 11 pick in April. And Trubisky has found his own fresh start.
"I feel like he can put all this behind him," said safety Eddie Jackson, who was part of Trubisky's draft class with the Bears in 2017. "Outside of football, that's still my guy, that's still my brother.
"This new chapter in his life is something he's going to learn from. He can put all this stuff behind him and prove people wrong. Mitch had a lot of people against him. Right now, it's just turning the critics to fans."
If the Bills have good fortune, Trubisky will only play in garbage time this season. Allen is coming off a stellar 2020 in which he led Buffalo to the AFC Championship game, and he has the team poised as a Super Bowl contender moving forward.
But Trubisky has the Bills' belief if called upon and feels the support in his new home. Though his four years as Bears quarterback were marked by disappointment, he still looks back with fondness and peace.
"Love the people of Chicago," Trubisky said. "The fans are as passionate as anybody out there. I'm grateful for the reception that I received. It definitely felt good coming back here. It was nice to perform well today. I love the fans in the city of Chicago but also love where I'm at now. Grateful for my journey."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.