Ozzy Trapilo Saved The Bears’ Season: The Grittiest Play You Didn’t See On The Stat Sheet
The Chicago Bears got it done. Everybody knew the stakes. A loss at home to the Green Bay Packers would reaffirm their control of the rivalry. A win would finally give the Bears something they haven’t had for 30 years: freedom. Most of the credit for their epic 18-point comeback will go to quarterback Caleb Williams, with huge assists from tight end Colston Loveland and running back D’Andre Swift. However, one of the most pivotal moments of the game won’t show up on the stat sheet. It belonged to Ozzy Trapilo.
Chicago’s rookie left tackle went down with an injury with two minutes left in the 4th quarter. Had he stayed down and required help off, the Bears would’ve had to burn their final timeout. Instead, Trapilo fought through obvious pain to get of the field, allowing his team to keep that timeout in their back pocket. This prevented them from feeling rushed, resulting in two big gains on the next two plays, including the winning touchdown pass to D.J. Moore.
People had no idea at the time what Trapilo had just done. Head coach Ben Johnson had revealed after the game that the rookie had ruptured his patella tendon. He is done for the season and faces at least six months of recovery. By any stretch of logic, he should’ve been carted off the field. His quick thinking and unbelievable toughness saved the day.
Ozzy Trapilo has a bright future.
It’s sad his season ended like this. He was playing some good football down the stretch for this team. This is a major setback. There is no getting around that fact. It is likely he will miss the start of the 2026 season as he rehabs from the injury. Still, he’s young enough to overcome it without any long-term consequences. When he’s 100% again, he looks like their left tackle of the future. Nobody can say he lacks intelligence or courage. Most players would’ve just stayed on the turf and waited for the cart.
Until then, it’s a safe bet the Bears will work to keep Theo Benedet on the roster. While his pass protection may never be great, his value as a run blocker should help the offense stay strong. Ozzy Trapilo is undeniably their future. If they can add a few more like him to this roster, this team will compete for a championship. That was their first playoff victory in 15 years. It’s fitting that an offensive line proved crucial to making it happen. Here’s hoping Ozzy gets better quickly.