Ohio State QB Justin Fields Traded From Bears To Steelers
Justin Fields is finally getting a fresh start.
According to multiple reports, the Chicago Bears are trading the former Ohio State quarterback to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2025 sixth-round pick that can convert into a fourth-round pick based on playtime.
The Steelers must decide if they plan on picking up Fields' fifth-year option before OTAs begin this summer.
Fields, who became the face of the NFC North franchise after being selected 11th overall in 2021, joins a quarterback room that just added quarterback Russell Wilson and lost Kenny Pickett in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. Wilson, who recently was released by the Denver Broncos, is only promised the starting job entering training camp.
With timing and improvements under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, Fields might beat out Wilson for the starting job outright before the start of the regular season. For now, he'll learn under the Super Bowl-winning passer from Seattle with the intent of being the long-term answer in the Steel City.
Even though there were flashes of promise, Fields' status in Chicago was bleak following another losing season. Even though the Bears saw improvements — going from the NFL's worst franchise to 7-10 — having the No. 1 pick after trading last offseason with the Carolina Panthers likely pushed the conversation to start fresh under likely consensus top quarterback Caleb Williams.
In three years, Fields went 10-28 as the Bears' starter. In 2022, he flashed as a dual-threat option, rushing for a quarterback-leading 1,143 yards while averaging 7.1 yards per attempt and scoring eight touchdowns. Last season, Fields posted career highs in completion percentage (61.4 percent), passing yards (2,562), and touchdown passes (16) while throwing a career-low nine picks and taking less sacks.
Earlier this month at the NFL Scouting Combine, Bears general manager Ryans Poles told reporters that he hoped to have an answer on Fields’ future and didn’t want to “leave him hanging.”
“No one wants to live in grey, I know that's uncomfortable," Poles said on Feb 27. "I wouldn't want to be in that situation either. So, we will gather the information, we will move as quickly as possible, we are not going to be in a rush and see what presents itself and what's best for the organization."
The Steelers are hopeful they'll see the version of Fields who guided the Buckeyes to a national championship appearance in 2020. A two-year starter in Columbus, Fields led the Buckeyes to consecutive appearances in the College Football Playoff and was named a Heisman finalist in 2019, alongside former Ohio State defensive end Chase Young.
Fields put the NFL on notice with his six-touchdown, 385-yard performance in Ohio State's 49-28 win over Clemson in the 2021 Sugar Bowl. With the Buckeyes, Fields threw for 5,373 yards, rushed for 867 yards, and scored 78 touchdowns.
With Chicago, Fields threw for 6,674 and 40 touchdowns against 30 interceptions while posting an 82.3 passer rating. He also rushed for 2,220 yards and 14 TDs.