Let quarterbacks Mitch Trubisky and Teddy Bridgewater serve as proof of how short memories can be in the NFL.

Trubisky is going from backup to starter and Bridgewater is going from starter to backup in part because Trubisky restored his value by not putting out any bad film from the Bills bench last season while Bridgewater’s flaws for the Broncos remain front of mind.

The 27-year-old Trubisky agreed to a two-year, $14.25 million deal to be the Steelers’ starter in the aftermath of Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement, and the 29-year-old Bridgewater agreed to a one-year $6.5 million deal to sit behind Tua Tagovailoa with the Dolphins on the first day of NFL free agency, per reports. With added incentives, Trubisky’s deal could climb as high as $27 million and Bridgewater’s as high as $10 million.

One year ago, Trubisky entered free agency as the unwanted draft bust of the Chicago Bears, who made him the No. 2 pick in 2017 ahead of Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. Trubisky went 29-21 as a starter with a Pro Bowl selection and two playoff appearances, but the Bears declined his fifth-year option and ultimately moved on to another first-rounder in Justin Fields.

After Roethlisberger’s retirement in January, the Steelers were left with Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins as their top in-house options. They poked around the trade market — Watson and Jimmy Garoppolo still are available after the Broncos landed Russell Wilson and the Commanders dealt for Carson Wentz — but went for the much simpler (and uncertain) route.

Trubisky, who threw eight passes last season for the Bills, was linked in some places to the Giants because of ties to general manager Joe Schoen, head coach Brian Daboll and quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney — who all came to Big Blue from Buffalo. But the salary cap-strapped Giants couldn’t offer starter money or an opportunity to play ahead of Daniel Jones.

Bridgewater went 7-7 and threw 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions for the Broncos, who displaced him by trading for Wilson. The Dolphins are his sixth team in as many seasons, since the former Pro Bowler’s promising career was derailed by a devastating leg injury with the Vikings in 2018.