LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) -- Bears edge rusher Robert Quinn wasn’t ready for the news that his team had traded star pass rusher Khalil Mack to the Chargers in March.
“Kind of disbelief,” Quinn said Tuesday as he reflected on learning that news. “I was in shock.”
An 11-year NFL veteran, Quinn had been in this position before as part of a team in transition, and he recognized what was occurring for the Bears. After firing the previous regime and hiring general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus, the Bears have seemingly entered a rebuild.
Naturally, Quinn wondered whether he’d be next out the doors of Halas Hall. He now believes that he’ll remain with the Bears moving forward but acknowledged there’s still uncertainty.
"I didn't expect to go or want to go anywhere,” Quinn said. “But this is a crazy business."
Quinn, 31, was honored Tuesday as the Bears’ veteran winner of the Brian Piccolo Award, which honors a veteran and a rookie – running back Khalil Herbert this year – who best exemplify “the courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication and sense of humor of Piccolo.” A beloved running back for the Bears, Piccolo died of embryonal cell carcinoma, an aggressive form of germ cell testicular cancer, at the age of 26 in 1970.
In a ceremony at the PNC Center in Halas Hall, Quinn shared the story of when he learned he had a brain tumor at age 17 and being told he could have a week to live. The tumor proved to be benign, and he has lived a healthy life since while becoming a disruptive defensive player in the NFL.
A positive presence on and off the field , Quinn set the Bears’ new single-season sack record in 2021 with 18.5 sacks, surpassing Hall of Fame defensive lineman Richard Dent. It came after a 2020 in which Quinn had just two sacks for the season.
With three years remaining on his five-year contract with the Bears, Quinn is embracing the team’s direction forward.
“’Rebuild’ is a funny word,” Quinn said. “I think it’s more getting guys to believe who they truly are and perform at their high expectations. Everyone is talented enough because they’re here. Now it’s getting guys to go prove it.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.