Justin Fields experienced both progress and setbacks during his time with the Chicago Bears, but he seems to have found a better situation with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Over his 40 games in Chicago, the Bears consistently finished below .500, a reflection of the struggles within the organization.
Despite Fields’ talent, a combination of roster issues and poor coaching hindered his ability to lead the team to success. The instability in coaching staff rotations and other team weaknesses played a significant role in the Bears’ underwhelming performance during his time there.
Fields worked under multiple head coaches and offensive coordinators in Chicago, which impacted his development. After Matt Nagy left in 2021, Matt Eberflus was brought in as head coach, along with Luke Getsy as offensive coordinator in 2022. However, despite these changes, the team’s offense didn’t improve as expected.
Eberflus himself acknowledged that the offense lacked the growth needed to be competitive, leading to Getsy’s dismissal after a disappointing season. This inconsistency in coaching left Fields without a stable foundation to build his game.
In March, Fields’ time with the Bears ended when he was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a conditional draft pick. Despite a solid 2023 season where he threw for over 2,500 yards, scored 16 touchdowns, and added 657 rushing yards, the Bears chose to move on from the 25-year-old quarterback.
In his new environment, Fields quickly expressed his preference for the Steelers’ coaching staff, noting in a conversation with teammate Cam Heyward that Pittsburgh’s coaching was a much better fit for him compared to what he experienced in Chicago.
Fields also shared details about the trade process during his appearance on Heyward’s “Not Just Football” podcast. He revealed that several teams, including the Los Angeles Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, and Las Vegas Raiders, had shown interest in acquiring him.
However, Fields was selective about his next destination, wanting to avoid joining a team where the starting quarterback position was already locked in. This desire for a more open opportunity led him to choose Pittsburgh, where he could grow and prove himself.
Now with the Steelers, Fields is focused on the future, as the team prepares for an important game against the Indianapolis Colts. With a more supportive and stable coaching environment in Pittsburgh, Fields hopes to build on his potential and contribute to the team’s ongoing success, leaving behind the challenges he faced during his time with the Bears.
