Justin Fields knows there’s a typical timeline in the NFL. The Chicago Bears QB thinks he’s ‘just at the start.’
Two years, eight months and one day ago, Chicagoan Carlos Nelson walked across the NFL draft stage, shook Commissioner Roger Goodell’s hand, removed his mask and announced the pick.
With the 11th selection, the Chicago Bears were taking Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields.
Masked-up Bears fans at the first in-person draft after the emergence of COVID-19 cheered, and NFL Network analysts heaped praise.
“This is an exciting moment here for the Chicago Bears,” analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “This is a team that has a pretty good defense in place. They just didn’t have any juice. There was no excitement on this offense. … He’s going to give this Chicago Bears team something they don’t have, and it’s going to be a lot more fun to watch.”
Charles Davis cued up the comparison: Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Davis cited the body and arm, the ability to move around and extend plays, the adaptability and toughness.
After decades of searching for a franchise quarterback, the Bears might have found the player to break through the mediocrity.
Fast-forward through a challenging rookie season under a lame-duck coaching staff. Through a general manager and coaching change. Through more growing pains in a second season with a stripped-down roster. Through the second-best rushing season by a quarterback in NFL history with 1,143 yards. Through 6,258 passing yards and 39 touchdown passes over 36 starts but also 30 interceptions, 127 sacks and an 81.4 passer rating. Through a social media movement anointing H1M. Through a dislocated right thumb throwing off incremental progress in Year 3. Through endless outside debate about whether the Bears offensive struggles are the fault of the coaches or the quarterback.
And we get to Friday afternoon at Halas Hall, two days before what potentially could be Fields’ final start at Soldier Field for the Bears.
At his locker after practice, Fields considered how all of that had been jammed into the start of his career, which now hinges on a crucial Bears decision. And he summed it up with a familiar conclusion, one he has offered before in a wild season: “God doesn’t make mistakes.”
“It’s been tough,” he said. “My situation has been different than others. But I wouldn’t change it if I had the option to. I’ve learned a lot. I learned a lot of football. … And I learned a lot of life stuff too. My journey has definitely been different, but I’m on this journey for a reason.”
Entering the Week 17 game against the Atlanta Falcons, Fields and the Bears have won three of their last four games to double their three-win total from 2022 under coach Matt Eberflus.
By most accounts, Fields has made steps toward becoming the type of quarterback the Bears can win with. Interceptions and sacks are down since he came back from the thumb injury Nov. 19. He has closed out some wins. He has had flashes of improvement in his movement within the pocket and his willingness to pass downfield rather than always tuck and run when the pocket breaks down. And he has continued to show his unique ability — unlike few others in the NFL — to extend plays with his legs.But is that enough to convince the Bears to bet on him again?
General manager Ryan Poles is a bad Carolina Panthers finish away from securing the No. 1 draft pick he obtained in the trade of last year’s No. 1 pick. A highly touted quarterback draft class, led by USC’s Caleb Williams and North Carolina’s Drake Maye, awaits this spring. And questions remain about whether Fields — who ranks 23rd with 195.1 passing yards per game this season — can become the quarterback to lead the Bears toward their Super Bowl hopes.
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All of those factors lead to more questions as the Bears head toward their final home game of the season Sunday and then their finale against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
Could this really be it for Fields with the Bears? Is Poles ready to switch gears toward the development of a new quarterback? Or will he give Fields more time?
Fields, who is just 24, truly believes he will become the quarterback he wants to be, whether it’s in Chicago or elsewhere.
“With my work ethic, with the tools that God has blessed me with, I’m going to get there one day,” Fields said. “That’s why I’m not necessarily worried about whether I’m here or somewhere else next year. God blessed me with amazing tools — a talented arm and legs that I can use to run away from guys. And I’m smart, too, learn from my mistakes. With the way I work, with the way I love this game, I’m going to get there one day.
“And I haven’t even touched it. People put a timeline on whether they can judge guys, but I’m really just at the start.”
But that’s the way quarterback opportunities in the NFL often go — in a blink.
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