Dear Justin, Thank You…Sincerely, A Bears Fan

Dear Justin,

We knew this time would come even if we hoped it didn’t. At some point we just had to come to terms with the fact that you are never going to play for the Bears again. I thought that when I heard the news that it wouldn’t hurt so much, but it does. Sometimes, knowing that something is going to happen makes things easier; this wasn’t one of those times. So for Bears fans everywhere, I am writing to say thank you.

Thank you for making the night of April 29, 2021 one of the best nights of my sports fandom life. When the Bears traded up with the Giants with you still on the board, I knew what was happening even though I didn’t believe it. I’m sure you know now, there hasn’t been great, or even good, quarterback play in Chicago in my 40 years of life. The list of Bears quarterbacks is scary, but when some guy named Carlos Nelson announced your name, it was all about to change. Thank you.

In honor of draft night and the fact that the Bears don't have a 1st round pick.

Here's my reaction to drafting Justin Fields. pic.twitter.com/Z8YqUAkzuI

— MboneHD (@MboneHD) April 28, 2022

Thank you for giving all of us Bears fans hope, something we didn’t have for a long time. I remember getting texts from everyone I knew; they were all congratulating me like my wife gave birth to another child. My response to all of them said simply, “Soldier Fields,” Everyone knows that Bears fans suffered through the drafting of Cade McNown, Rex Grossman, and Mitch Trubisky. None of that was easy because no one thought any of them were going to be good. But finally, a quarterback who we believed could change the franchise was being drafted by the Chicago freakin’ Bears. As fans, hope is a powerful thing, and you gave it to us. Thank you.

Thank you for making a grown man cry…okay, maybe not cry, but I teared up like when I watch Bruce Willis talk to his daughter at the end of Armageddon. I was two when the Bears won the Super Bowl, so I’ve never really seen them win one. So yes, there were some tears of joy when you were drafted, and I’m not ashamed to say that. But there’s another reason why you coming to Chicago was so important…

Justin Fields is drafted…now what?

Thank you for being the player who made my two young kids say, “Daddy, can we please have a Justin Fields jersey?”  You are that guy to them no matter where you play, but you were the first. Kids everywhere who are Bears fans acted like they were Justin Fields while playing in the backyard or on the playground. Those same kids had you as the background on their computers (for us it was the one from the mud game against the Niners). Those very same kids dominated in Madden using JF1 every time they turned on the PS5. Thank you.

Thank you for making every offensive snap you ever took exciting. We never knew what you were going to do. Maybe you would make a nice throw. Maybe you would evade a defender (who was probably right in your face because you rarely had protection) and make him look silly. Maybe you would show off that cannon on your right arm (although I wish play calling would’ve let you unleash more throws downfield, but we won’t get into that).

In 2022 when I was at Soldier Field in -6 degree weather, I was lucky enough to see the crowd explode on one of your magical long runs. For those 20 seconds, it didn’t feel cold out and the Bears’ record didn’t matter. I heard nothing but the roar of 61,000 people; it was as special a scene as I’ve ever witnessed. For that experience, Thank you.

Here’s the ALL-22 video of the Justin Fields run vs. the Eagles for your viewing pleasure Chicago. Enjoy! #DaBears #Bears pic.twitter.com/JRnz8mpEJ6

— The Bear Minimum (@theBearMinPod) December 20, 2022

Thank you for being the distraction that some of us fans need from real life from time to time. In life, sh*t happens, and when it does, sometimes we just need to escape the real world for three hours on a Sunday. Looking back at your three years here, you were that distraction that was needed.  Watching your highlights or rewatching the game during the week enabled us to look forward to seeing you play the next week and not worry about anything else. Without you even knowing, you helped more than you’ll ever realize. Thank you.

Thank you for playing the game like it should be played. You had fun out there (you and the rest of the offense sliding across the field in the rain will live in our minds forever). You played tough, hardnosed football, and did everything you could to win. You appreciated the fans, especially the kids. You understood what being a Chicago Bear means. You were a great example for my children, both on and off the field, which isn’t as common as it should be nowadays. So for that, Thank you for being H1M.

Thank you, JF1

It’s time to move on, but we’ll still root for your success in the future, draft you on our fantasy teams, and play with you in Madden. We’ll remember the fun times and talk about what could have been. This didn’t end like we had hoped, it usually doesn’t, and why it didn’t isn’t important right now. What is important is that you know that as Chicago Bears fans, we appreciate the hope you gave us, the hard work you put in, the example you set, and the fun we had.

Good luck in Pittsburgh, and Thank you.

Sincerely,

A Bears Fan