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  6. article_body => "<p>Danny Trevathan continues to shine as transition to Chuck Pagano's defense presses on<br><br>It only took Mark DeLeone two minutes to get chills after meeting Danny Trevathan for the first time earlier this year.&nbsp;<br><br>The Bears\u2019 new inside linebackers coach knew about Trevathan from his days with the Kansas City Chiefs, while Trevathan was part of a Denver Broncos team that won a Super Bowl. DeLeone spent time watching the Bears\u2019 defense last year, too, for a simple reason: \u201cAs a defensive coach in the NFL last year for another team, you watch this defense.\u201d<br><br>But the impact of Trevathan's presence is magnified when seeing it up close.&nbsp;<br><br>\u201cHe\u2019s just a special personality,\u201d DeLeone said. \u201cI think when he\u2019s on the field, the other 10 guys, they all look to him. He\u2019s such an unbelievable leader, a charismatic person.\u201d<br><br>Trevathan may not be the most well-known player on a defense that returns three All-Pros (Khalil Mack, Eddie Jackson, Kyle Fuller) and has other stars\/first-round picks populating every unit (Akiem Hicks, Leonard Floyd, Roquan Smith). But no defensive player\u2019s words carry more weight than those spoken by Trevathan.&nbsp;<br><br>Most importantly, Trevathan communicates play calls to his teammates as the so-called quarterback of the defense. As someone entering his eighth year in the league and the owner of a Super Bowl ring, there isn\u2019t much he hasn\u2019t seen. And that\u2019s helped him handle the transition from Vic Fangio\u2019s language and concepts to Pagano\u2019s language and concepts \u2014 which, in turn, helps his teammates iron out some of the wrinkles caused by that coordinator swap.&nbsp;<br><br>\u201cYou just go watch him in the meeting room, you watch him in walkthroughs, you watch him through Phase 1 and Phase 2 and now at practice here, they\u2019re talking all the time,\u201d Pagano said. \u201cWhether he\u2019s in the huddle and they\u2019re taking reps with the first unit or he\u2019s on the side taking mental reps, they\u2019re talking all the time. That communication is outstanding.\u201d<br><br>Beyond making the transition from Fangio to Pagano\u2019s scheme a little less complicated for the rest of the team, Trevathan\u2019s presence as a leader on the Bears carries importance. It\u2019s the same reason why DeLeone got chills after hearing Trevathan talk back in the winter.&nbsp;<br><br>\u201cThey respect him, and he commands that respect,\u201d Pagano said. \u201cHe\u2019s one of the hardest working guys out here. He knows the system inside and out. He\u2019s one of the first guys in. He\u2019s the last guy to leave. He commands that respect. He does a great job from an accountability standpoint, a leadership standpoint, where he\u2019s gonna hold himself accountable. But then in the right way, he can bring people along with him and hold each other accountable, hold his teammates accountable.\u201d<br><br>Trevathan\u2019s future beyond 2019 with the Bears, though, is murky. He\u2019s in the aforementioned last year of his contract and will turn 30 next March, shortly after he\u2019s scheduled to enter free agency. Roquan Smith could, theoretically, take over the communication duties within the defense next year \u2014 when the Bears, importantly, may hit a cap crunch.&nbsp;<br><br>But Trevathan may prove to be difficult to replace, if the Bears were to go that route, for all the reasons laid out above (he also had over 100 tackles last year). For now, though, he\u2019ll continue to play a massively important role in keeping the league\u2019s best defense atop the NFL in 2019.&nbsp;<br><br>\u201cFour years here, man, it feels great,\u201d Trevathan said. \u201cI still feel like I got plenty more in me.\u201d<\/p>\n"
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Bears

Bears

Danny Trevathan continues to shine as transition to Chuck Pagano's defense presses on

It only took Mark DeLeone two minutes to get chills after meeting Danny Trevathan for the first time earlier this year. 

The Bears’ new inside linebackers coach knew about Trevathan from his days with the Kansas City Chiefs, while Trevathan was part of a Denver Broncos team that won a Super Bowl. DeLeone spent time watching the Bears’ defense last year, too, for a simple reason: “As a defensive coach in the NFL last year for another team, you watch this defense.”

But the impact of Trevathan's presence is magnified when seeing it up close. 

“He’s just a special personality,” DeLeone said. “I think when he’s on the field, the other 10 guys, they all look to him. He’s such an unbelievable leader, a charismatic person.”

Trevathan may not be the most well-known player on a defense that returns three All-Pros (Khalil Mack, Eddie Jackson, Kyle Fuller) and has other stars/first-round picks populating every unit (Akiem Hicks, Leonard Floyd, Roquan Smith). But no defensive player’s words carry more weight than those spoken by Trevathan. 

Most importantly, Trevathan communicates play calls to his teammates as the so-called quarterback of the defense. As someone entering his eighth year in the league and the owner of a Super Bowl ring, there isn’t much he hasn’t seen. And that’s helped him handle the transition from Vic Fangio’s language and concepts to Pagano’s language and concepts — which, in turn, helps his teammates iron out some of the wrinkles caused by that coordinator swap. 

“You just go watch him in the meeting room, you watch him in walkthroughs, you watch him through Phase 1 and Phase 2 and now at practice here, they’re talking all the time,” Pagano said. “Whether he’s in the huddle and they’re taking reps with the first unit or he’s on the side taking mental reps, they’re talking all the time. That communication is outstanding.”

Beyond making the transition from Fangio to Pagano’s scheme a little less complicated for the rest of the team, Trevathan’s presence as a leader on the Bears carries importance. It’s the same reason why DeLeone got chills after hearing Trevathan talk back in the winter. 

“They respect him, and he commands that respect,” Pagano said. “He’s one of the hardest working guys out here. He knows the system inside and out. He’s one of the first guys in. He’s the last guy to leave. He commands that respect. He does a great job from an accountability standpoint, a leadership standpoint, where he’s gonna hold himself accountable. But then in the right way, he can bring people along with him and hold each other accountable, hold his teammates accountable.”

Trevathan’s future beyond 2019 with the Bears, though, is murky. He’s in the aforementioned last year of his contract and will turn 30 next March, shortly after he’s scheduled to enter free agency. Roquan Smith could, theoretically, take over the communication duties within the defense next year — when the Bears, importantly, may hit a cap crunch. 

But Trevathan may prove to be difficult to replace, if the Bears were to go that route, for all the reasons laid out above (he also had over 100 tackles last year). For now, though, he’ll continue to play a massively important role in keeping the league’s best defense atop the NFL in 2019. 

“Four years here, man, it feels great,” Trevathan said. “I still feel like I got plenty more in me.”