Bears center Sam Mustipher earns respect from teammates, carves out role

In a team meeting earlier this season, Bears head coach Matt Nagy commended center Sam Mustipher. Offensive coordinator Bill Lazor couldn’t remember the context of the meeting or why Nagy highlighted Mustipher.

But he does remember the reaction from Mustipher’s teammates.

“Offensive and defensive players, the cheer that came up almost took me aback,” Lazor said. “The reaction of the team showed me what the team thinks of him.”

Mustipher has been an unsung hero for the 2020 Bears. He went from a relatively unknown practice squad offensive lineman to the starting center – arguably the most important offensive position besides quarterback – in a matter of weeks.

The 24-year-old former Notre Dame center signed with the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and spent the entire 2019 season on the practice squad. After training camp this season, he remained on the practice squad. Only after James Daniels suffered a season-ending pectoral injury did Mustipher move up to the 53-man roster.

When veteran center Cody Whitehair suffered a calf injury against the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 26, Mustipher slid into the center position. Now, after a brief hiatus due to a knee injury, Mustipher has started three consecutive games at center for the Bears.

The Bears have solidified their offensive line over those three games with Charles Leno at left tackle, Whitehair at left guard, Mustipher at center, Alex Bars at right guard and Germain Ifedi at right tackle. Following a bevy of injuries and COVID-19-related absences, this is the most stable the Bears’ offensive line has been in months.

Mustipher’s abilities at center, and the confidence he exudes, are a big reason why.

Running back David Montgomery, the Bears’ top draft pick in 2019 out of the third round, entered the NFL the same year as Mustipher.

“You’d think he been in the league 10, 11, 12 years the way he comes at you and takes charge,” Montgomery said Sunday following a win over Houston. “He’s the general on the line and they buy in.”

Lazor sees that buy-in from Mustipher’s teammates, and the team meeting earlier this season is a perfect example.

“I’m not surprised David said that,” Lazor said. “I’m not down on the field on game day, I’m not in the huddle on game day, but it’s really natural for Sam to be a leader and to be in command.”

First-year Bears offensive line coach Juan Castillo has a long history with Mustipher. As a senior offensive tackle at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney, Maryland, in 2013, Mustipher played with sophomore quarterback Andres Castillo, Juan Castillo’s son. Juan Castillo was then the run game coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens.

Juan Castillo said Mustipher and Andres used to work out at the Ravens facilities every once in a while.

“Sam’s got ability,” Castillo said. “Sam was a highly recruited player. So to me, I don’t really see Sam like [an undrafted player]. I see Sam as somebody who has ability.”

When Castillo was offensive line coach under Andy Reid in Philadelphia from 1999 to 2010, the Eagles started – and found a lot of success with – at least three undrafted centers: Bubba Miller, Hank Fraley and Jamaal Jackson. Castillo sees no reason why Mustipher couldn’t follow that same path.

As Lazor said, Mustipher earned the respect of his teammates the last year and a half, he never asked for it.

“Really, I just want the guys to look at me as somebody who comes in here everyday and does his job and is consistent no matter what’s going on on or off the field,” Mustipher said. “That’s really important to me. But if my teammates deem me as [a leader], then that’s awesome.”

The past three weeks, Mustipher has lined up next to Bars, a former college teammate of his at Notre Dame. Bars and Mustipher were members of the same class at Notre Dame and played countless games together for the Fighting Irish.

They have been on this journey together from Notre Dame Stadium to Soldier Field. Mustipher said the caliber of athletes is the biggest difference between the NFL and college.

“There’s a lot of talented people, from coaching staffs to players,” Mustipher said. “I think that’s a big adjustment from college football and just getting used to that and learning every week and gaining experience is very important for me.”

Indianapolis Colts guard Quenton Nelson, another former Notre Dame lineman and the No. 6-overall draft pick in 2018, stayed with Mustipher last summer in the Chicago area. Mustipher, Nelson and Bars all worked out together.

For Mustipher, the focus was on getting stronger and being consistent in his workouts. His efforts and discipline are paying off months later.

“I was consistent with doing those things,” Mustipher said. “Being around guys who compete at this level was important for that development.”

If he keeps playing the way he has the last three weeks, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Mustipher suiting up at center for the Bears in 2021 and beyond.