Justin Fields’ future is in limbo. The next five weeks or so will either serve as the saving grace of his run with the Chicago Bears or as the swan song of a failed effort to lead the offense of the historical franchise. This also could threaten his status as a starting NFL quarterback altogether.
The Bears will likely have the first overall pick of the 2024 draft and two of the first five picks. With stud quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Drake Maye available, there’s a big possibility of the team choosing one to begin a rebuild, of sorts, at the top of the offense. If that’s the case, Fields’ days are numbered with the team.
But if there’s soul-shaking pressure on the back of the 24-year-old former first round pick, it’s not evident in what he’s been saying or how he’s been conducting his business.
Chicago Bears Quarterback Justin Fields Addresses the Media
“I mean, life isn’t fair,” Fields told media on Wednesday. “I’m just focused on what I can control, and the rest is in God’s hands.
“Wherever, if I’m here next year, if I’m not, football doesn’t define who I am as a person. My happiness will still be in the same place, will still be in God.”
Fields, who was selected in the first round of the 2021 draft with the Bears’ overall no. 11 pick, has improved in key statistical areas in the eight games he’s played this season, such as completion percentage (64.4) and passer rating (92.3), as well as passing yards per game. However, his QBR of 45.1 is 23rd in the league and, perhaps most important, his team is 4-8 and 2-6 with him at the helm.
During his 3-year run with the Bears, he’s 7-26 in games he’s started. Now, that losing record can’t entirely be attributed to his game play, but there’s no denying his inconsistent play at times and a maddening penchant for fourth quarter flubs.
“I’m really just trying to be consistent; I think that’s the biggest thing,” Fields said. “You can play good one game, play bad the other. So me personally, it’s just trying to be consistent and trying to be better than I was yesterday.”
The one consistency with Fields has always been his off-the-field coolness and maturity. He gives off the vibe of a young man with his head on straight, sporting an unflappable demeanor. He appears to be taking all of this present tense pressure in stride.
“Shoot, since I got to Chicago, y’all don’t hold back,” Fields added. “I hear it from y’all, I hear it from fans and stuff like that. I don’t take any of it personal, because I know everybody’s entitled to their opinion on certain things and stuff like that. That’s one thing I try to do is not take anything personal, and just go about it that way.
“I’ve had moments in my life to where I’ve wanted things to happen that didn’t go that way, and it ended up going another way and it worked out better than I ever could have imagined. That’s really why I just don’t stress about stuff that happens, and just controlling what I control and like I said earlier just being the best person I can be and striving to be the best player I can be.”