Justin Fields’ tenure with the Chicago Bears has come to an end, but it appears his time in the Windy City got off to a rocky start long before it concluded after three seasons.
According to a report from Go Long, Fields did not get along with veterans Andy Dalton and Nick Foles during his rookie season in 2021, describing their relationship as “toxic as hell.” The report highlights that Fields and Foles “could not stand each other,” with one instance where Foles attempted to teach Fields something, but Fields refused to listen.
Former Bears director of player personnel Josh Lucas confirmed this in February, explaining that the dynamic between Fields and the veteran quarterbacks was not harmonious during his rookie season. “We thought having two vets with him would really help him with Andy and Nick, and that was not cohesive at all,” Lucas told Windy City Gridiron.
Lucas mentioned that while he appreciated Fields’ confidence, believing he was the best and deserved to be on the field, he felt Fields could have benefitted from learning from Dalton and Foles. “There’s a teachable moment in every point of practice,” Lucas said. “When you’ve got two guys that have won as much as Nick and seen as much as Andy, and you don’t take that information in because you’re a little standoffish and a little abrasive, you’re wasting that opportunity.”
Fields did not start immediately after the Bears traded up to draft him with the 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, initially starting with Dalton. However, Fields became the starter in Week 2 after Dalton’s injury. He finished his rookie season with 1,870 passing yards, seven touchdowns, ten interceptions, 450 rushing yards, and two rushing touchdowns in 12 games, missing some time due to injuries.
Following the 2021 season, Fields retained his starting quarterback role as the Bears released Dalton and Foles. He continued as the starter through the 2023 season. Ultimately, the Bears moved on from Fields after he threw for 2,562 yards, 16 touchdowns, and nine interceptions, adding 657 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns in 2023. With the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Bears selected Caleb Williams.
Questions about Fields’ ability to work with veteran quarterbacks have resurfaced as he is set to play behind another veteran with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Fields was traded to Pittsburgh in March after the team signed Russell Wilson in free agency. Head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed that Wilson would be the starting quarterback for offseason workouts but noted that Fields would have a chance to compete for the starting job.
Tomlin emphasized that Wilson’s work ethic could be a valuable learning opportunity for Fields. “Just from my conversations with Justin, I know he is excited about working alongside Russell and maybe learning some of those veteran tricks of the trade and things that [Wilson] picked up from being in this league for over a decade,” Tomlin told reporters in March.
