The Chicago Bears pulled the early surprise of Thursday night's first round in the NFL draft when they selected North Carolina quarterback Mitchell Trubisky with the No. 2 pick, having made the choice without any significant public leak.
While sources said general manager Ryan Pace didn't inform coach John Fox of the decision on Trubisky until about 90 minutes before the draft commenced, Fox was heavily involved in the process leading to that point. He attended the team's private workout and subsequent meeting with Trubisky, team sources said, and fully participated in the evaluations of draft prospects and strategies.
It was only after Pace, who oversees the draft and all personnel decisions, played out scenarios in the final hours Thursday that the opportunity and decision to draft Trubisky crystallized, a source said. Fox was briefed once Pace had clarity of the team's options and choices based on the evaluations that the GM, coach and personnel department had made on a variety of players and trade opportunities.
Nevertheless, as ESPN analyst and Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian explained with the borrowed cliche of "loose lips sink ships," Pace had a necessary secrecy within his own organization because at least two teams, including the Cleveland Browns, had discussed potential trades within the top of the draft to select Trubisky. But Fox, as head coach, was indeed involved and well aware of the options, including the one that led to Pace's decision to swap the No. 3 slot for the 49ers' No. 2 slot and subsequently land Trubisky.