If money works, Bills want QB Mitchell Trubisky back as Josh Allen's backup
While his contributions on the field have been minimal, Buffalo Bills backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky is a trusted sounding board for Josh Allen, both during the practice week and on the sideline during games.
The Buffalo Bills re-signed their plan C at quarterback this week.
The question now becomes, will the team have a new plan B behind starter Josh Allen for the 2026 season?
Shane Buechele, who spent last season on the practice squad, signed a one-year contract Wednesday to provide some depth, but last year’s backup, Mitchell Trubisky, is headed toward unrestricted free agency next month.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen, left, greets backup Mitch Trubisky on Jan. 4 against the Jets.
Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
Trubisky, 31, is a former second overall draft pick of the Bears in 2017. That situation did not work out, but he has found a home in Buffalo as Allen’s backup, spending three of the past five seasons in that role. After one year with the Bills in 2021, Trubisky signed a two-year contract with the Steelers, but returned to Buffalo when that deal expired. He has been Allen’s backup the past two seasons.
Over that time, he has not had to take any meaningful snaps – Allen is one of the toughest, most durable quarterbacks in the NFL – but Trubisky did light up the New York Jets in Week 18, going 22 of 29 for 259 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-8 victory.
While his contributions on the field have been minimal, Trubisky is a trusted sounding board for Allen, both during the practice week and on the sideline during games. After every offensive drive, Allen takes a seat on the bench directly next to Trubisky, and the two break down the previous possession.
“Like always, as a free agent … (he’ll) want to see what his market is. Does anyone want him to try and start or not?” Bills general manager Brandon Beane said. “Guys want to play, but I think Mitch really likes it here, and we would definitely be open to bringing him back if we can make it work and he doesn't have some great opportunity.”
Trubisky is coming off a two-year contract that paid him $5.25 million. His cap hit last season was $3.25 million. Any reunion will require a cap hit in that neighborhood again, because the Bills are currently over the projected 2026 salary cap, meaning even if he does his annual cap gymnastics, Beane isn’t going to have a lot of money to spend.
“Those will be conversations I have with Beane,” Trubisky said last month as the Bills cleaned out their lockers following the divisional round playoff loss to the Denver Broncos. “Figuring out if I can get back or if there is another situation out there for me, we'll see, but I definitely love it here and am grateful for my time. It's been awesome.”
Bills quarterback Mitchell Trubisky throws a pass to running back Ty Johnson on Jan. 4 at Highmark Stadium.
Derek Gee, Buffalo News
Trubisky did not have a great preseason last summer, but it is fair to wonder whether the performance against the Jets might influence the Bills’ thinking in regards to bringing him back. Trubisky was awesome in that game, even if the Jets appeared to be mailing it in.
“I mean, we were right there, right? We had a chance,” Trubisky said. “I think there is just some things we have to learn from. A couple more pieces here and there. But we're close. Just continue to get better. These guys will get older. The young guys will continue to develop. I'm sure we'll bring some other guys in to help out. It's closer than we think.”
Trubisky has come to love being in Buffalo. His presence in the locker room is important to the fabric of the team, and the trust Allen has in him can’t be overstated.
“I think we achieved a lot, but there is also a lot to learn from, to continue to build on moving forward,” Trubisky said. “I'm just proud of them. It's a special group. Great relationships, will last the rest of my life, for sure. Just want everybody to continue to keep their chins up, hold them high and just continue to work hard, because it's just going to make us into better people and better teammates and players moving forward.”
Bills quarterback Mitchell Trubisky motions at the line of scrimmage behind center Sedrick van Pran-Granger on Jan. 4.
Derek Gee, Buffalo News
Immediately after the season ended, Trubisky was pained to see how much the weight of the loss to the Broncos hung on Allen’s shoulders. The Bills’ star quarterback takes every loss hard, but was as down as he’s perhaps ever been after being eliminated by Denver.
“He carries the weight of this organization – this city – on his shoulders, and he does it with ease a lot of times,” Trubisky said. “We've just got to continue to find ways to help him so that we can get to our ultimate goal. He's a special human being, special player, and when you're shouldering the blame like that when you really don't have to, at all, it just speaks to the person he is and the type of leader he is. I look up to that guy a lot.”