The Chicago Bears are committed to having Justin Fields as their long-term quarterback if remarks from their general manager are anything to go by.
Fields was drafted as the number 11 pick overall by the Bears in 2021 and was instantly placed as their starting QB. Fields replaced Mitchell Trubisky, who himself was a number two pick back in 2017, and has the full support of the Bears organization.
However, the Bears’ 2022 season almost couldn’t have gone much worse if it tried. They had a 3-14 record and finished bottom of the NFC North, and even lost their final 10 games of the season.
Fields, though, still managed to record 17 touchdown passes last season with 11 interceptions in total. He also had a QB rating of 54.0 which placed him 17th across the entire NFL, ahead of the likes of Tom Brady, Matthew Stafford and Aaron Rodgers, to name just a few.
Fields was way down the list, though, in terms of total passing yards. His total of 2,242 saw him placed 36th across the entire NFL, and the third lowest for QBs that played in double-figure games last season.
Despite that, Bears general manager Ryan Poles is quoted talking to NFL+, via The Comeback , about Fields and it hints at the plans for the future. Poles says that Fields was involved during the 2023 NFL Draft process last month as they made their selections as they lean on him as a key part of the Bears' long-term future.
"I want my quarterback part of the process,” said Poles. “I told them what we were going to do. That relationship is important."
The Bears had a busy draft this year, bringing in 10 new players in total. They are: offensive tackle Darnell Wright, defensive tackle Gervon Dexter, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, defensive tackle Jacch Pickens, running back Roschon Johnson, wide receiver Tyler Scott, linebacker Noah Sewell, cornerback Terell Smith, defensive tackle Travis Bell and safety Kendall Williamson.
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus will have plenty of new options to choose from next season should he wish. The remark from Poles about Fields’ involvement indicates that the organization is fully backing the QB for the long run.
The 2023 season will be Fields’ third as a starting QB at Soldier FIeld for the Bears. The plan will be for an improvement on the previous season, but it will not be outside the realms of reality to aim for a Play-Off run. Poles, Eberflus and Fields will all hope to have a much improved season compared to the 3-14 record they endured in 2022.
