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- calendar_today October 15, 2026
Bears to Face Uncommon Challenge: A Left-Handed Quarterback
When the Chicago Bears line up against the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday, they will encounter a rare event: facing a left-handed quarterback. Michael Penix, who leads the Falcons, is set to start and will become only the second lefty starter the Bears have opposed in the past 15 years.
Left-Handed Quarterbacks: A Statistical Rarity
While about one in ten people are left-handed, left-handed quarterbacks are notably infrequent at the professional level. Since 2000, the Bears have played 426 regular-season games, but only 11 featured opposing left-handed quarterbacks under center—just 2.6% of their games. League-wide, since 2020, only three lefty quarterbacks have started: Michael Penix, Tua Tagovailoa, and Dillon Gabriel. Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski has coached all three of these athletes.
Chicago Bears Defense Prepares for Unusual Passing Spin
The prospect of facing a left handed quarterback poses unique challenges for the Chicago Bears defense. Defensive backs coach Al Harris and nickelbacks coach Cannon Matthews noted the unusual visual and physical characteristics of passes thrown by a lefty quarterback. Harris explained, "The ball just comes out different... just the way the ball spins." Due to gyroscopic torque, the spin on a left-handed throw pushes the football left, the opposite of a right-handed throw. Matthews added, "Everything just looks foreign—it looks weird."
Simulating the Left-Handed Spin in Practice
Adjusting to the unique quarterback spin has been a priority in Bears practices this week. Assistant linebackers coach Kevin Koch, himself a former left-handed quarterback at Immaculate Conception High School and playing at the College of DuPage and Minnesota-State Moorhead, has stepped in to replicate lefty passes during practice sessions. Matthews said, "We get those simulations in walk-through," ensuring the defense is exposed to the trajectory and velocity they will see from Penix.
Connections and Memories: Rome Odunze and Michael Penix
The left-handed quarterback is not foreign to all members of the current Bears roster. Receiver Rome Odunze caught passes from Penix for two years at the University of Washington. In 2023, Penix led all FBS receivers as Odunze broke the school record with 1,640 yards. Reflecting on the experience, Odunze acknowledged the subtle differences a lefty quarterback brings, especially in windy conditions, but said he quickly learned to adjust during games.
Penix’s journey to the Falcons has not been without challenges. After recovering from his third torn ACL, he returned in Week 3 and led Atlanta to a 2-1 record since, with their sole loss coming after Tagovailoa relieved Penix and threw an overtime interception.
Historical Rarity of Left-Handed Quarterbacks in Bears' Opponents
Historically, the Bears have rarely encountered starting left-handed quarterbacks. In the last twenty years, the team has only faced a handful: Michael Vick (twice), Tyler Palko, Tim Tebow, and Tagovailoa, in addition to Penix. The last time the Bears faced a lefty before Tagovailoa in 2022 was Matt Leinart with the Cardinals in 2006.
Coaching Adjustments for the Falcons Offense
Falcons offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, with roots in Lake Forest and Notre Dame, adapted the Atlanta playbook this offseason to better suit a left-handed quarterback, flipping standard plays to make them more "lefty-friendly." Despite facing this uncommon opposition, Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen maintained, "We’re not spending a ton of time talking about, scheming up, for a left-handed quarterback," focusing instead on practical adjustments to angles and throws during the week.
Looking Ahead
Sunday’s game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium will mark the third time the Bears have played at the venue, each time coinciding with notable moments in their quarterback saga. With Michael Penix likely to start, the Bears will once again try to adapt to the rare challenge that a left-handed quarterback—and his unique passing spin—brings to the field.
Source: chicago.suntimes.com.
