Justin Fields has lastly been traded. After months of hypothesis, the previous Chicago Bears‘ quarterback has been dealt to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2025 sixth-round decide that goes to a fourth-round decide based mostly on playtime.
Fields’ standing in Chicago had been unsure for the reason that center of the 2023 season, when rumors began to flow into in regards to the Bears’ longterm plans for him. Ultimately, the Bears finally determined to begin over at quarterback whereas giving Fields a recent alternative with a brand new crew. That crew is the Steelers, who had been considered one of six groups that enquired about Fields, in keeping with ESPN.
“Cannot say thanks sufficient to town of Chicago for taking me in and embracing me,” Fields posted on X shortly after the commerce was reported. “Thanks to your complete Bears group and possession for permitting me the chance to be a part of such a historic franchise.
“However most of all thanks to my all my brothers that I performed with. You all had been the explanation I attacked every day the best way I did. I can not thanks all sufficient for what y’all have meant to me over the past 3 years by means of the ups and downs. I want every considered one of you nothing however success. Prepared for this subsequent chapter!”
In Pittsburgh, Fields will be a part of forces with nine-time Professional Bowler Russell Wilson, who was signed this week simply earlier than the Steelers traded former starter Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles. Wilson is penned as Pittsburgh’s starter with Fields serving as his backup, through ESPN.
Russell welcomed his new teammate to Pittsburgh, through “X.”
The buying and selling of Fields all however ensures that the Bears will choose former USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 total decide. The Bears’ subsequent beginning quarterback can have a fairly first rate supporting solid round him, a gaggle that features wideouts Keenan Allen and DJ Moore, working again D’Andre Swift and tight finish Gerald Everett.
From a cash standpoint, the Steelers are in a really perfect scenario on the quarterback place. Fields is coming into the ultimate yr of his rookie contract and has a cap hit of simply $3.2 million.
Pittsburgh is anticipated to increase Wilson’s contract subsequent offseason, in keeping with the Put up-Gazette, which signifies that Fields will probably be free to check the open market subsequent offseason. The Steelers may preserve Fields, nonetheless, within the occasion that issues do not go as deliberate with Wilson.
The Steelers signed Wilson for simply $1.21 million because the Broncos are paying him $39 million to not have him on their roster in 2024. Even with the acquisition of Fields, the Steelers nonetheless have the monetary flexibility so as to add to their roster in free company. Count on Pittsburgh so as to add one other wideout to the equation through free company someday quickly.
Fields went 10-28 because the Bears’ beginning quarterback. Whereas his report wasn’t nice, Fields nonetheless confirmed flashes of his potential that compelled Chicago to pick out him with the eleventh total decide within the 2021 NFL Draft. His completion share climbed throughout every of his three seasons with the Bears. In 2022, Fields recorded the second-highest speeding whole for a quarterback in NFL historical past. Final season, he set profession highs in completion share, passing yards and landing passes whereas throwing a career-low 9 picks.
In school, Fields loved a prolific profession at Ohio State. A two-year starter in Columbus, Fields led the Buckeyes to consecutive appearances within the Faculty Soccer Playoff. His most iconic second with the Buckeyes was his six-touchdown efficiency in Ohio State’s 49-28 win over Clemson within the 2021 Sugar Bowl.
Fields will look to additional faucet into his potential in Pittsburgh, who’ve utterly turned over their quarterback room over the previous month.