The Chicago Bears have their no. 1 quarterback in Caleb Williams and are, by all accounts, beyond happy with that reality. They are also, by some recent accounts, ecstatic about having swapped Williams for former starting quarterback Justin Fields, who may not have been as much of a beloved figure on the team as portrayed publicly.
Fields, the former first-round pick, was dealt this offseason to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a conditional draft pick in 2025, which may be as low as a sixth-round selection.
Now, details have emerged, painting the three-year veteran, entering into his fourth season in the pros, as somewhat of a toxic presence, at worst, and slightly clueless, at best.
Justin Fields’ “Toxic” Behavior
In a recent piece by Tyler Dunne of Go Long (his Substack), anonymous sources portray Fields as having contributed to a quarterback room that is described as “f*****g toxic as hell.”
In Dunne’s article, Fields is described by sources as a young player who came into the league sporting an “undeserved aura” but was lacking in “emotional intelligence.”
Dunne also detailed the alleged stormy relationship between Fields and veteran quarterbacks Andy Dalton and Nick Foles, stemming from Fields’ unwillingness to be mentored by his more experienced peers.
Chicago Bears Chaos in the QB Room
“There were several arguments amongst the QBs,” Dunne wrote. “Once, per one source, Foles was trying to teach something to Fields in the QB room and — upon turning toward the rookie — Foles realized Fields wasn’t even paying attention. His head was down. At that point, Foles was done trying to play mentor. The two could not stand each other.”
“One source plugged into the Bears locker room,” Dunne added, “says the widely held narrative that Fields was a strong leader is inflated, citing the quarterback as ‘a surface level dude’ who didn’t develop authentic relationships with teammates. He called reports that teammates love Fields ‘bull****’ adding that the quarterback carried himself with an undeserved aura and lacks emotional intelligence for someone who’s been a quarterback so long.”
Caleb Williams as the Anti-Justin Fields
By contrast, Caleb Williams has, so far, been giving off the exact opposite vibe and saying all the right things when it comes to team harmony and his leadership role.
“To be a great leader, you’ve got to learn how to follow first,” Williams recently told media. “So, right now I’m following all the vets, I’m following all the coaches. I’m listening — having both ears open and my mouth shut. Just kind of sitting back, listening. And when I get to the point of, when I learn everything, when I learn the ways of how we do it — the playbook, the culture, and what the offensive line, wide receivers are all doing, running backs, tight ends, and things like that, then you can start taking the lead. Then you can start taking the helm of all of it and take the next steps.
“For right now, though, I’m listening more than I’m speaking and taking, and I’m taking it one step at a time, being in the moment.”
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus affirmed this positive attitude in the team’s new QB1.
“You can really tell he’s comfortable in his own skin and he is who he is,” Eberflus said in a recent press conference. “His personality starts. His light comes out from the inside. You can certainly feel that energy. He’s a one-plus-one-equals-three guy. He’s an enhancer. He’s a guy that brings out the best in people. You can certainly feel that in him within five minutes of meeting him.”
So, is Caleb Williams the anti-Justin Fields? Does the former Heisman Award winner have the mental/emotional intangibles that Fields may not have had? Are the Bears getting the complete package in Williams, and not just a bundle of talent that needs to grow up before growing into a leadership role?
Time will tell.
