If I told you that your favorite team’s offense consisted of DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Cole Kmet, Deandre Swift and rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze, how gassed up would you be?
If you’re a Chicago Bears fan, then you understand the feeling.
But if you’re Justin Fields, you’re a little salty for you endured three years of horrid coaching, poor offensive line play, injuries and a lack of weapons only to be traded to the Steelers and then get to watch your former team load up on offense for your successor, USC star QB and Heisman Trophy winner, Caleb Williams.
This isn’t a knock on the Steelers, for Fields has the tools to be an NFL QB and could be the second coming of Kordell Stewart (a player ahead of his time). Plus, the Steelers are building an offense with high hopes now that Matt Canada is gone and former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith is the offensive coordinator.
Instead, I’m pointing out, as I’ve done many times before, that Fields deserved better than he got in Chicago. And, subsequently, he deserved the opportunity to play with the offense that the Bears have assembled.
He, DJ Moore and Cole Kmet showed what they could do when on the field together. When you add in Allen, Swift, Odunze and a resurgent line to the equation, the potential increases exponentially.
Some continue to doubt Fields’ talents and quickly point to his record of 10-28 during his tenure with the Bears.
But that’s shortsighted and scapegoating for they ignore the reality of what Fields had to deal with.
First, it was head coach Matt Nagy, who almost got Fields killed in his rookie season with his poor schemes and lack of talent around the former Ohio State star.
In year two under Matt Erberflus, Fields literally continued running for his life to the tune of 1,143 yards and 8 TDs but still lacked weapons.
In his final year with Chicago last season, Fields and the aforementioned Moore and Kmet developed chemistry before Fields missed four games due to injury.
During that time, some actually tried to throw shade at the young QB, including NBC Sports’ Cris Collinsworth, who felt back-up QB Tyson Bagent was the model for Fields to learn from.
“These couple of games, however long Bagent stays the starting quarterback, they’re gonna have Justin Fields study this guy,” said a gushing Collinsworth during the Bears’ Sunday Night Football game against the Chargers.
That night, Bagent threw for 232 yards and 2 INTs in a loss to LA.
The debate over Fields continued for the remainder of the season and the embattled QB was ultimately traded to the Steelers this past offseason for a conditional sixth-round pick.
Fields deserved a clean start and under the tutelage of Mike Tomlin, Smith and projected starter Russell Wilson, he will have that opportunity and more. Eventually, he will find his stride and thrive in the NFL as a star quarterback.
But on Thursday night during the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, all I could think of was how much better Justin Fields deserved from Chicago.
