This offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers endured a rocky quarterback exit with Kenny Pickett. But that wasn’t the case with the Chicago Bears, head coach Matt Eberflus, and quarterback Justin Fields.
Eberflus told Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer that there was a lot of mutual respect between the club and Fields this offseason. Then, on March 16, when the team finally traded the quarterback to the Steelers, Eberflus sent Fields a warm parting message.
“We thanked him for his leadership, his work ethic, and just the man that he is, how he’s always been a wonderful guy,” Eberflus said of the last message. “I just told him, ‘Hey, I really enjoyed our relationship together the last couple of years.'” I said, “That certainly doesn’t end here.”
“The relationship that he and I built over the first couple years is special and no one can ever take that away from us.”
During Fields’ time in Chicago, the squad experienced a lot of coaching turnover. Fields did, however, play for Eberflus in two of his three seasons with the Bears.
This offseason, Chicago traded Fields as the team prepared to make its first No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft since 1947.
The Bears had the first pick in 2023 as well, but they gave it back to the Carolina Panthers. The move kept Fields as the team’s starter last season.
This year, Chicago drafted USC quarterback Caleb Williams first overall.
Bears’ Matt Eberflus Did ‘Right’ by quarterback Justin Fields
While there was some public debate about whether the Bears would move Fields, it appeared to be a foregone conclusion that they would depart with the 2021 first round pick this offseason.
But in the months leading up to the trade, Bears general manager Ryan Poles emphasized that the team “wanted to do right by Fields.”
Poles and Bears honoured their commitment. On March 29, ESPN’s Brooke Pryor reported that Chicago declined a superior offer to trade Fields to Pittsburgh.
Fields was traded to the Steelers, who were in need of quarterback depth for the 2023 playoffs. Even if Russell Wilson starts in Pittsburgh this fall, the team has a long-term need behind centre.
Field’s Second Chance With the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Fields shown tremendous playmaking ability during his three seasons with the Bears. However, he made numerous costly mistakes, and the club did not fare well in terms of winning.
During each of his three seasons, Fields averaged at least 5.3 yards per carry. He also averaged at least 6.9 yards per pass.
While not a fantastic average, Pickett averaged 6.3 yards per pass during two seasons with the Steelers.
Fields also tossed 40 touchdowns and ran for 14 more.
However, the Bears were 10-28 with Fields as their starter. Under Eberflus, Chicago went 8-20, with Fields starting behind centre.
In 40 games, Fields threw 30 interceptions, took 135 sacks, and fumbled 38.
Fields, however, will get a second opportunity with the Steelers under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Pittsburgh denied Fields’ fifth-year option, but The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac projected in April that the organization would sign Fields to a long-term agreement, maybe before the season began.
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