The Bears’ dismal quarterback history is well-documented. But the hope is that changes with Justin Fields.
For Fields, he doesn’t feel any added pressure given the franchise hasn’t had a true franchise quarterback in decades. In fact, any of those high expectations fans have for Fields, Fields says his own expectations are greater.
“In all honestly, it’s not my fault that they haven’t had a franchise quarterback,” Fields said on the Slow News Day podcast with Kevin Clark. “My expectations, I think they’re higher than what any fan out there has for me. I want to be the best I can be. I think the amounts of success I want to bring to our team, to this organization, to our city, it’s greater than what anybody expects. It’s no added pressure at all because I want to be the best I can be and I know how great I can be.”
Fields is coming off a breakout second season, where he emerged as one of the NFL’s most electric players. Fields made defenses pay with his legs, rushing for 1,143 yards (just 64 yards shy of breaking Lamar Jackson’s single-season rushing record).
But there’s plenty more to be desired out of the passing game. Fields completed 60.4% of his passes for 2,242 yards, 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. While he had some nice moments in the passing game, even Fields admitted that there’s room for improvement heading into a pivotal third season.
Still, with nearly $100 million in salary cap space and the No. 1 overall pick, there are no shortage of resources for GM Ryan Poles to build around Fields.
2023 preview
- 4 Bears who could be salary cap casualties in 2023
- Bears expected to be active pursuing offensive linemen in free agency
- Keenan Allen could be cap casualty: Should the Bears be interested?
- 4 veteran WRs who could become cap casualties that may interest the Bears
- 8 pending free agents the Bears should consider re-signing in 2023
- One free agent each NFL team should want to sign in 2023
- Bears salary cap hits for each player on 2023 roster
Draft coverage
- Adam Schefter believes Bears will get ‘unbelievable offers’ for No. 1 pick
- Full 7-round Bears 2023 mock draft: Post-Senior Bowl edition
- Bears 4-round mock draft: Chicago trades back twice, lands top defender and offensive playmakers
- Bears’ top 2023 draft prospects: Jordan Addison (No. 13), Braeden Daniels (No. 12), John Michael Schmitz (No. 11), Andrew Vorhees (No. 10)
- 2023 NFL mock draft roundup: Bears field offers for No. 1 pick
- Jarrett Bailey’s Senior Bowl Notebook: Who impressed, who elevated their draft stock
- 10 potential Bears draft targets who elevated their stock at Senior Bowl
- Luke Getsy confident the Bears will draft someone from the Senior Bowl
Other headlines
- Bears QB Justin Fields sounds off on trade talk
- Devin Hester snubbed again from Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Does Matt Nagy regret how he handled Bears QB Justin Fields?
- Kyle Long nearly quit Bears at halftime vs. Raiders following blowup with Matt Nagy in 2019
- Former Bears DE Robert Quinn admits he was angry about how trade went down
- Bears QB Justin Fields received a vote for NFL MVP
- Bears QB Justin Fields eager to pick Steve Young’s brain
- Equanimeous St. Brown helps brother, Amon-Ra, win Best Catch at Pro Bowl Games
- Bears QB Justin Fields plans on reaching out to Aaron Rodgers this offseason
- Packers QB Aaron Rodgers going on 4-day ‘darkness retreat’ to contemplate football future. READ MORE ON PACKERS WIRE.
- Justin Jefferson wins AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year. READ MORE ON VIKINGS WIRE.
- Aidan Hutchinson wins fan voting for Rookie of the Year. READ MORE ON LIONS WIRE.
