NEWSLETTER
So long, old friend. May the Force be with you.
The Justin Fields trade is happening.
So says NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, who is reporting it and sharing the news on Twitter:
UPDATE (7:45 PM CT): It’s officially official, via the Bears.
There you have it. Just like that, the Justin Fields era is over.
It didn’t happen on the timeline Bears General Manager Ryan Poles might’ve wanted. And it isn’t coming with the return that ESPN’s Adam Schefter was hinting at earlier in the offseason. In fact, Schefty reports the return is a 2025 sixth-round pick that becomes a fourth-rounder based on playing time. Ick. What a light return for such a talented quarterback. I don’t love that Mac Jones, Sam Howell, and Kenny Pickett netted better returns for their old teams in those respective trades. Oof. This one is going to sting for a minute.
But if you’ve been waiting for the Bears to pick a lane when it comes to the future of the quarterback position, then this news will come with a sense of relief. However, if you’ve been waiting for the Bears to commit to Justin Fields this offseason, this bit of news will likely leave you with a sour taste in your mouth. And for that, I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Justin Fields is gone — now what?
What’s next for Justin Fields is a clean start. As a bonus, he gets to have that fresh slate while playing under one of the NFL’s best coaches and for an organization with a winning background. To that end, I’m happy for Fields.
Fields ends his Bears career with 6,674 passing yards, 40 passing touchdowns (against 30 interceptions), a 60.3 percent completion rate, and an 82.3 passer rating to go along with 2,220 rushing yards and 14 scores. He was sacked 135 times and had 38 fumbles in 40 games with the team. The Bears went 10-28 in the 38 starts Fields made, which isn’t as much of an indication of his shortcomings as it is a reflection of the organizational shortcomings around him. But that feels like a topic for a longer, more in-depth post than what I want this to be.
CHECK IT OUT: Justin Fields 2023 Report Card
No, it isn’t a clear path to starting. But it is an opportunity for a hard reset that could turn into a launching point for a better future. And that is what I’m rooting for when it comes to Justin Fields. Once a Bear, always a Bear. Right? So long as he isn’t playing the Bears, I’ll have a spot in my heart as a fan that is reserved for rooting for Fields’ success. For all his flaws, Justin Fields was entertaining as heck to watch. I hope he gets to entertain another fan base to the fullest extent.
OK, but what’s next for the Bears?
As for the Bears, the time is now for this franchise to go on a full-court press to find its next quarterback. Reporting from NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport from Super Bowl week hinted that it would take a historic haul for the Bears to trade out of the No. 1 pick. I imagine that haul’s price will go up a skosh now that the Fields situation is settled.
For what it’s worth, the team is already well on its way toward unearthing its next QB1. But there is a bunch of work to do. Pro Days are already underway and top 30 visits are on the horizon. Caleb Williams is atop of the quarterback prospect rankings right now, but what happens in private workouts, team interviews, and a visit to Halas Hall will ultimately play a role in whether he is the Bears pick. Otherwise, we’ll find ourselves digging into the likes of Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, J.J. McCarthy, and others.
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I’m not going to sit here and act like I didn’t see this coming. Everything the Chicago Bears have signaled with their words and actions has pointed to the franchise moving on from Justin Fields as their unquestioned starter.
The signs were there all along. GM Ryan Poles delivered a noncommittal answer when discussing Fields’ future at the season-ending press conference in January. Or at the Combine when he said he wanted to “do right” by Justin. Head Coach Matt Eberflus detailing what he was looking for in a quarterback never felt like he was describing Justin. New QBs Coach Kerry Joseph shared his thoughts on what he wants out of the position and gave us the perspective of someone’s new eyes who was brought on board to solve an old problem.
Those words and actions have been relayed by every prominent league reporter who is worth their salt. Whether it was from the likes of league insider Ian Rapoport this week, his NFL Network teammate Tom Pelissero in February, their ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reporting in January, or locally with Brad Biggs back in October. The signs have been there. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has monitored this situation with any consistency.
But still … I’m need some time to unpack this trade, what it means for Fields, and what it means for Chicago’s football team. By no means is this a blockbuster. Instead, this trade is more like something you’d compare to ripping off a Band-Aid. It’ll sting for a moment when you think about Justin Fields joining the list of Bears quarterback hopefuls who fell short of the lofty expectations set before him. And while you might think ripping the Band-Aid off will come with regret, I’m reminded that process is just the first step toward moving on.
