Roquan Smith breaks down after Robert Quinn trade

Chicago Bears inside linebacker Roquan Smith. Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports

Bears LB Roquan Smith breaks down after being told of Robert Quinn trade

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 10/26/22

Although Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles said Wednesday’s trade of defensive end Robert Quinn to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick “just made too much sense,” it doesn’t make it any easier for some of Quinn’s former teammates to process it.

During the Bears’ media availability on Wednesday afternoon, linebacker Roquan Smith was informed of the trade and appeared to take the news particularly hard.

“Sucks…” a teary-eyed Smith said before asking for a second to collect his thoughts. “I have a great deal of respect for that guy. … Damn. Crazy.”

A visibly emotional Smith fought back tears, using his T-shirt to shield his tears before cutting his media availability short and distraughtly leaving the podium.

Here’s Roquan Smith reacting in the moment to the news of his teammate Robert Quinn getting traded to the Eagles:#Bears @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/lRJT0QPY2H
— Matt Zahn (@mattzahnsports) October 26, 2022

Smith and Quinn have been teammates for the last two-plus seasons after the latter signed a five-year, $70 million contract with the Bears before the 2020 season. Quinn set a Bears franchise record with 18.5 sacks last season, but he had just one sack and eight tackles through seven games this season.

Like Quinn, Smith’s name has reportedly been floating around as a potential trade target. The 25-year-old linebacker is in the final season of the four-year, $11.51 million contract he signed in 2019. He will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

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