Ozzy Trapilo Making His Case as the Bears’ Left Tackle of the Future
When the Bears threw rookie offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo into the fire in Week 12, it wasn’t exactly under ideal circumstances. Before that game, he’d logged just 72 offensive snaps all season - and only one of those came at left tackle.
But when called upon to protect Caleb Williams’ blindside against a physical Pittsburgh Steelers front, Trapilo answered the bell. One pressure, no sacks.
Not bad for your first NFL start on the edge.
Now three starts in, Trapilo’s showing signs that he might be more than just a stopgap. He might be the answer.
Let’s rewind. After that solid debut against Pittsburgh, Trapilo ran into a buzzsaw in Week 13 on Black Friday against the Eagles.
Philadelphia’s defensive line is no joke, and they made Trapilo feel every bit like a rookie. He gave up four pressures and three hurries, and his pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus plummeted to 44.7 - a harsh but telling number.
It was a rough outing, no sugarcoating it.
But the real story is how he bounced back.
In Week 14 against the Packers, Trapilo delivered what might be his most impressive performance yet. He didn’t allow a single pressure in 40 pass-blocking snaps, and PFF rewarded him with a 91.1 pass-blocking grade - elite territory.
Now, PFF grades don’t always capture the full picture, but when they’re that high, they usually match what you see on tape. And in this case, they did.
Breaking Down the Tape and the Talk
On CHSN’s The Big Pro Football Show, co-hosts Ruthie Polinsky, David Haugh, and Clay Harbor dove into Trapilo’s performance, calling it a bright spot in an otherwise frustrating loss to Green Bay.
Polinsky raised the big-picture question: Could Trapilo be the Bears’ long-term solution at left tackle?
Haugh, taking a broader view, pointed out the encouraging signs. “If the numbers match the eye test,” he said, “Ozzy Trapilo is your left tackle of the future.” He’s a second-round pick, and if he’s starting to put it together now - late in the season, when rookies often hit a wall - that’s a very good sign.
Harbor, a former NFL tight end who knows what it’s like to line up next to tackles, brought his film-study insights to the table. He noted how offensive coordinator Ben Johnson crafted a game plan that kept Williams on the move.
That helped neutralize the Packers’ pass rush, especially Micah Parsons and Rashan Gary. The Bears didn’t ask Trapilo to go 1-on-1 against those guys very often - and that was by design.
“For what he was asked to do, I thought he did a good job,” Harbor said. But he also pointed out that the Bears clearly aren’t ready to put everything on Trapilo’s shoulders just yet. “They did not trust him to do a lot of the things you would trust a high-paid veteran tackle to do.”
That’s fair. Three starts in, Trapilo is still learning. But the tools are there.
When Haugh circled back and asked if Trapilo could become that trusted left tackle, Harbor didn’t hesitate.
“Oh yeah, I think he can,” he said. “He’s got the right mindset.
He’s a guy that’s gonna play to the whistle. He’s intelligent.”
Looking Ahead: The Real Test Is Coming
This week brings another challenge - the Cleveland Browns and Myles Garrett. Now, Garrett usually lines up on the defense’s right side, which means Trapilo may not see him often in direct matchups.
But don’t expect Jim Schwartz to keep it that simple. With Garrett chasing the single-season sack record, you can bet the Browns will find ways to test Trapilo, whether through stunts, blitzes, or pressure packages designed to isolate him.
Still, through three starts, Trapilo has done what he needed to do. Two strong outings, one tough one, and a clear upward trajectory. If he continues to hold his own and grow in confidence and consistency, the Bears may have already solved one of the biggest questions on their offensive line.
And that would be a huge win for GM Ryan Poles - crossing off left tackle from the offseason to-do list would free up resources and attention elsewhere. For now, Trapilo’s job is simple: keep stacking good reps, keep protecting Caleb Williams, and keep proving he belongs. So far, he’s doing just that.