After three seasons of horrid offensive lines, bad coaches, poor management decisions, trade rumors and questions about his future in Chicago, it’s time for Justin Fields to leave the Bears.
Fields was selected by the Bears with the 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and while he’s given much to the organization, the team has failed to reciprocate.
In his rookie season, Fields failed to impress, granted he lacked real offensive firepower to showcase his talents.
In year two, he showed what he was capable of doing with his legs, rushing for 1,143 yards and 8 TDs. But without any true help at receiver, his arm failed to duplicate his leg’s success, throwing for 2,242 yards, 17 TDs and 11 INTs over 15 games.
Last season, the team finally got him a true threat in DJ Moore, and when Fields was healthy, they showed what a dangerous combination they could be. Despite missing four games, Fields threw for 2,562 yards, 16 TDs and 9 INTs. While some will immediately point to the Bears’ record of 5-8 with Fields as the starter, seeing the chemistry and potential he flashed with Moore and TE Cole Kmet demonstrated what he could do with support.
Yet he still had to deal with critics like NBC Sports’ Cris Collinsworth, who ridiculously stated that Fields needed to learn from backup Tyson Bagent.
“These couple of games, however long Bagent stays the starting quarterback, they’re gonna have Justin Fields study this guy,” said Collinsworth during Chicago’s game against the Chargers in October.
Mind you, Bagent went 2-2 while subbing in for Fields, throwing for 859 yards, 3 TDs and 6 INTs.
So on top of everything else, including running for his life as his offensive line failed to protect him, Fields had to endure comparisons to a DII backup QB.
After the season ended, Fields remained in the news cycle as the media debated his future with the Bears. Chicago holds the number one overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft and the consensus is that the team should draft USC’s Caleb Williams and trade Fields.
At this point, I agree, only because Fields deserves better than what Chicago has done to him.
Some in the organization, including President and CEO Kevin Warren, have recently praised the Fields.
“Justin has a rare combination of intelligence, of size, of strength and speed,” said Warren during an interview with WGN. “You forget how big of a man he is until you’re up on him. He’s not a small man. I just think every year, he’s going to continually get better. So I’m glad he’s on the Chicago Bears.”
That could be sincere or it could be positioning to improve his trade value.
Regardless, Fields needs to get out of the Windy City and restart his career with an organization that supports him on the field, in the press and through the decisions it makes.
Earlier this week, the embattled young QB appeared on The St. Brown Brothers podcast and discussed why he unfollowed the Bears and his future with the team.
“Why do people take social media so serious?” Fields said. “I’m just trying to take a little break. I unfollowed the Bears and the NFL. I’m not just trying to have football on my timeline. … I’m about to go on vacation, I don’t want to see no football.
“Every Bears post, it’s either keep Fields, we want Fields, draft Caleb… I’m tired of hearing the talk.”
Fields also clearly stated that despite it all, he wants to stay in Chicago.
“Of course I want to stay,” said Fields. “To be honest, with all the talk, it’s hard to, I guess, kind of be in one place, but I can’t see myself playing in another place…..If it was up to me, I would want to stay in Chicago. I love the city. The city’s lit. The fans are great. It’s a business; I ain’t got no control over it.”
But he also expressed his frustration with his uncertain situation and rumors of him being traded to teams like Pittsburgh or Atlanta.
“The biggest thing with all this going on [is] I just want to it to be over,” he said. “Let me know if I’m getting traded [or] let me know if I’m staying.”
The NFL is a business, so the team will do whatever they feel is necessary to secure its future and win. That includes holding on to Fields or trading him.
Hopefully, the team does what most suggest and trades him to one of the aforementioned teams so that this incessant debate can end.
Because as we’ve said in the past, Justin Fields deserves better.
