The Chicago Bears are widely expected to trade Justin Fields in order to clear the way for them to take a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft this spring, but Bears fans may not be in agreement with that strategy.
During Chicago’s final home game of the season this past weekend, a 37-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons, Soldier Field was full of fans chanting “we want Fields,” and afterward, Fields expressed his gratitude toward the Bears faithful.
“I mean, I heard it. It was great,” Fields said, via the Bears’ official YouTube account. “Ever since the moment I got here, the fans here have been great — to me, to the team. I was saying to somebody in there, like, last year when we didn’t have a good record, they’re still showing up late in the season, cheering us on. So Chicago Bears fans are definitely No. 1 in the world and just know I love y’all, we love y’all as a team.”
Fields put forth a solid performance in what may very well have been his Windy City finale, going 20-for-32 with 268 yards and a touchdown. He also carried the ball 11 times for 45 yards and a score.
The 24-year-old made it a point to soak it all in.
“I did, but I always do that,” said Fields. “I just made a big emphasis on living in the present moment. I will definitely remember this game for the rest of my life. The atmosphere, the fans, the chants, the snow. I don’t like snow as a quarterback, but looking back on it, it was great, just the atmosphere, the fans the game and playing my hometown team where I’m from, beating them. It was a good day today.”
Chicago owns the top overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft courtesy of the Carolina Panthers. Last year, the Bears traded the No. 1 pick of the 2023 NFL Draft to the Panthers for their 2024 first-rounder and wide receiver D.J. Moore. Well, Carolina is guaranteed to finish with the worst record in the league this year, giving Chicago a crack at the first overall pick this time around.
The Bears are expected to take one of the top quarterbacks in the draft class, which would obviously spell the end for Fields after three seasons in Chicago.
It hasn’t always been smooth for Justin Fields, as he has gone just 10-27 as a starter, but there is no question that he showed flashes of brilliance this season, and the fans appreciate what he has done.
Want the latest NFL analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here. Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network.
