CHICAGO — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo felt pressure in the pocket this week as he prepared to make his first start with his new team.Make that pressure in the pants pocket.“I had to put my phone away for a little while the last couple days https://www.thebearsfanshop.com/Kyle-Long-Jersey ,” Garoppolo said with a grin. “I’m trying to focus.”The 26-year-old will make his first start for the 49ers and the third of his career when he and his teammates visit the Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field. It is familiar territory for Garoppolo, who grew up in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Ill., and played at Rolling Meadows High School before earning a scholarship to play at Eastern Illinois.Major college programs likely feel foolish by now for overlooking the pinpoint passer with a lightning-quick release.The promotion of Garoppolo generated a surge of excitement during an otherwise dreary season for San Francisco (1-10). The 49ers acquired him from the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2018 second-round pick on Halloween, and Garoppolo spent the past month on the sideline learning the offense under first-year coach Kyle Shanahan.An injury to fellow signal-caller C.J. Beathard last week opened the door for Shanahan to make the change at starter. Garoppolo came off the bench after Beathard got hurt, and he completed both of his pass attempts for 18 yards and a touchdown.Including his time in New England behind future Hall of Famer Tom Brady, Garoppolo has thrown 96 NFL passes without an interception. The NFL record belongs to Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who threw his first 176 passes before he finally was intercepted during his rookie season in 2016.Chicago (3-8) also has pinned its future hopes on a young quarterback with a big arm and little experience. Mitchell Trubisky will make his eighth start as he looks to rebound from a career-worst 38.3 passer rating in a 31-3 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.Trubisky, 23, has passed for 1,135 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions since the Bears selected him No. 2 overall in the 2017 draft. San Francisco initially owned the No. 2 pick but accepted a generous package of additional draft picks from Chicago in exchange for moving one spot down to No. 3.Is Trubisky peeved that the 49ers traded out of the No. 2 spot rather than draft him as the future franchise leader?“I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be,” Trubisky said. “I’m happy to be here in Chicago. This is where I was supposed to be.”Yet the North Carolina product is not happy with his recent performance. He blamed poor footwork for his ugly performance against Philadelphia and vowed to improve against the 49ers. He said the Bears’ current four-game losing streak was the longest that he can remember enduring on any of his teams at any level of football.Chicago needs a victory to avoid, at least for the moment, its fourth consecutive losing season.“We’re just going to have to find a way to get a win this week,” Trubisky said. “There’s no getting used to it. There’s no being content. We’ve just got to work harder Tom Waddle Color Rush Jersey , stick together and find a way to win this Sunday.”Bears running back Jordan Howard, who has 847 rushing yards and five touchdowns in his second year, can help to stabilize the offense. During a 26-6 victory over the 49ers last season, Howard shined with 32 carries for 117 yards and three touchdowns.Chicago ranks No. 29 in total offense and No. 12 in total defense. Defensive end Akiem Hicks leads the club with seven sacks but has not registered one in the past three games.San Francisco ranks No. 21 in total offense and No. 29 in total defense. Veteran pass rusher Elvis Dumervil has provided a rare bright spot with a team-leading 4 1/2 sacks, and rookie first-round pick Solomon Thomas is tied for second with two sacks.Running back Carlos Hyde leads the 49ers on the ground with 639 yards and four touchdowns. The team’s top receiver is Marquise Goodwin, who comes into this weekend with 27 catches for 578 yards and a score.However, all eyes will be on Garoppolo as he takes command of the huddle. A strong finish to the season could only improve the likelihood that he will sign a long-term deal or receive a high-price franchise tag to stay with San Francisco beyond this season.“I’m trying not to think about the future too much,” Garoppolo said. “I’ve learned in the past that when your mind wanders like that — quarterbacking in this league is hard enough, so when you start thinking about other things, you’re going to have a tough time. I’m staying focused on the Bears this week.“I hold myself to a high level. I’ve been doing that my whole life. That won’t stop.” We’re giving you a two-for-one on this next WCG offseason, Chicago Bears’ roundtable topic discussion." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteWindy City GridironWindy City Gridiron - Being who you thought we were since 2005!Log In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsSectionsBearsOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Latest NewsThe Bears DenNotesXs and OsSuperfansWhat’s the best and the worst thing about being a Bears fan?New,77commentsWe’re giving you a two-for-one on this next WCG offseason, Chicago Bears’ roundtable topic discussion. CDTShareTweetShareShareWhat’s the best and the worst thing about being a Bears fan?Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty ImagesCheering for a sports team isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. Whether we root for a perennial winner or a struggling franchise, we all have our fair share of frustrations surrounding our fandom.Then again, the highs we get to experience as sports fans is something you can’t explain to people that don’t like sports. Jumping up and down and screaming while high-fiving a perfect stranger at a Buffalo Wild Wings is certifiable to some people, but it’s just a typical Sunday to others. Being a fan of the Chicago Bears has been a roller coaster Sam Acho Jersey , so in our latest roundtable topic, we asked a few of our writers to give us the best (and the worst) thing about being a Bears’ fan. We’ll start on the negative.What’s the worst thing about being a Bears fan?Jeff Berckes - I’m going to say ticket prices. The combination of a small stadium, a huge fan base, and the laws of supply and demand generate crazy ticket prices. It’s so much more cost effective to catch them on the road. Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter - Not seeing the Bears win a Super Bowl during my lifetime. I was born long after the 1985 Super Bowl Shuffle happened. Sam Householder - Other Bears fans. Now before you misconstrue that to a personal attack, I’m saying the non-educated, non-WCG reading, reactionary ones. The ones that get all their knowledge from comment sections and headlines and not the articles themselves. Our fandom is filled with people that think they’re diehard, but have no working knowledge of the history of our franchise or how the modern NFL actually works. There’s nothing worse than a meatball fan cornering you and telling you that ‘Dat Trubinsky kid has topped out, they outta let Daniels play a little.’ Because you cannot reason with these folks. They know nothing better.Ken Mitchell - I’m a genuinely nice person, but there are two things that drive me — as a die-never Bears fan — nuts. 1) The obnoxious smugness of Packers fansAnd2) Bears fans who don’t know thing-one about the NFL in 2019 or their current team One of the reasons I love Windy City Gridiron, for the most part, is that you people know your Bears though and through, and although we may not agree on some things, we all have legit reasons to base our arguments on. The other main reason I love WCG is that you guys are just like me when it comes to dealing with smug Packers fans. That stuff doesn’t fly around here! Can I get an amen? Can I get a Rodgers Helmet Toss Gif in the comments? Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. - These days, not much, but the Favre/Rodgers quarter century of near dominance by the Packers was a tough stretch. I’m hoping the franchise has turned a corner and I can get back to cheering for a consistent championship threat. I’ve dealt with my fair share of obnoxious Packers’ fans https://www.thebearsfanshop.com/Devin-Hester-Jersey , but at least those fans have reason to be chippy with only seven years missed playoffs in the last 26 years. Detroit Lions’ fans trying to puff out their chests and talk trash because of a five year stretch is comical. The Lions have one playoff win since 1957. Let’s end on a positive note!What’s the best thing about being a Bears fan?Jeff Berckes - I think there are a lot of great things about being a Bears fan, but given that half of my wardrobe is Bears paraphernalia, I love the Navy & Orange. It’s the best looking jersey in the game and looks good in all situations - on the field, in the stands, in the board room, graduation, at a wedding - it’s always a good look. Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter - Being a part of the best fanbase in existence, as well as the most historic franchise in the NFL. Sam Householder - Given what I said before, I will say that the history of this great franchise is a point of pride. I enjoy when other Bears fans get it and really understand the depth and passion that runs through this franchise. When other fans come at me with “Well the Bears only have one Super Bowl ring” they lose me because fans who know, know that there’s actually 46 years of history that matters before the Super Bowl era. Cool, your team has won a lot since your Dad was alive, my team has been playing since my great-grandfather was around.Ken Mitchell - The best thing about being a Bears fan is wearing some team logo gear and running into other random Bears fans. There have been several times when I’m talking to fans and they talk about how big of fans they are, and they mention I should check out Windy City Gridiron. That makes me smile.Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. - Even though recent history has been a downer, I think it’s special to cheer for a team with such a rich past and a large fan-base. I live north of the border and I see almost as many Bear fans as I do Packer fans. Now it’s your turn.What’s the worst thing about being a Bears’ fan, and what’s the best thing?