Chargers coach Anthony Lynn saw some Aaron Rodgers in Mitch Trubisky’s college tape

Chargers coach Anthony Lynn liked Mitch Trubisky when he came out of North Carolina.

“Just watching him on the field, he made throws, he had a quick release,” Lynn said Tuesday. “He reminded me sometimes of Aaron Rodgers, the way he moved around. If he ever got in a bind, he could create. I thought he had the total package.”

Lynn had one person to thank for added insight: the boy he used to pay to mow his lawn.

Trubisky’s backup at North Carolina, Nathan Elliott, grew up a block away from Lynn, who keeps a house in his hometown of Celina, Texas. Lynn’s son played high school football for Elliott’s father Bill.

“Nathan Elliott, since he was a little boy, I paid him to mow my lawn,” Lynn said. “He ended up being a heckuva quarterback in high school. He ended up getting a scholarship to North Carolina, and he backed up Mitch. …

“The more I looked at [Trubisky] and studied him, I saw something. He only started for that one year, but I knew his work ethic because the guy that backed him up … just raved about his leadership and work ethic.

“So I know a lot of intangibles about him that some others didn’t.”

That was worth more than the $25 Lynn paid a young Elliott.

“I see a guy that I studied a lot coming out of school, and really liked him,” Lynn said. “And I saw him help turn that [Bears] program around last year, a 12-4 season.

“I loved the way [Bears coach] Matt [Nagy] used him.

“I think he’s a starting quarterback in this league. Shoot, he was hurt for 3-4 weeks there, but came back, played a tough team. I think he’s a heckuva quarterback. I like the young man.”