Mooney's success fueled by ability, work ethic

[Staley Da Bear]

When the Bears traded up in the fifth round of this year's draft to select Mooney with the 173rd overall pick, they knew they were landing a fast and productive receiver. The 5-11, 174-pounder was a four-year starter at Tulane who ran a blazing 4.38 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.


What sets Mooney apart from other naturally-gifted young players, however, is his maturity, mentality and work ethic.


"Nothing fazes this kid," Furrey said. "It's amazing the attribute that he has where he doesn't get high, he doesn't get low. He literally has a focus where, mentally, he knows what he's doing. I don't think he's had any MAs (missed assignments) over the last four or five weeks. Really, it's hard for me to say an MA he's had this season."


Mooney's performance as a rookie is even more impressive given that all offseason practices and preseason games were cancelled due to COVID-19. In the spring, when Halas Hall was closed and the Bears were conducting their offseason program entirely on a virtual basis, Mooney headed to a turf field near his New Orleans home to apply what he was learning in Zoom meetings.


"I record myself saying plays, all the plays we have installed," Mooney said at the time. "I have my headphones in and I'll go to a field and act like I'm in a huddle and hear the play call and just line up and go."


Mooney did more than just run routes during his daily workouts. He also caught passes from his quarterback at Gadsden High School in Alabama, Ahmad DeRamus, who spent the past four years playing at Tuskegee University, where he was named conference MVP in 2018.


After being drafted by the Bears, Mooney's first purchase wasn't a fancy car or a designer suit, but a JUGS machine that he could use to hone his receiving skills.


Mooney's intensive preparation enabled him to hit the ground running when he reported to Halas Hall for the start of training camp in late July.


"I love his ability and I love the way he approaches the game," said Bears passing game coordinator Dave Ragone. "I made the comment [previously] that he didn't feel like a rookie to me. Nothing has changed there.


"He just gets it, and when rookies just get it, you feel like the game is never going to be too big for him. Or the moment. Or what they're asked to do. He's done everything we've asked him to do, and he can get better and better. And he knows that. It's just great watching him grow."