If you’ve followed Ohio State football by any measure over the last couple of years, we don’t have to tell you how good quarterback Justin Fields can be. His ceiling is almost limitless with his dual-threat ability, ability to fit the ball in tight windows, arm strength, and work ethic. There’s some honing and molding that will need to ultimately occur at the next level, but the clay that’s being used will be rare indeed.
But how do Chicago Bears fans really feel about the former Heisman finalist falling in their lap? It was a bold and brash move for the Bears’ brass to trade up to No. 11 to get Fields, and it sure seems like the draft pick was a hit in the Windy City. Truth be known, my better halfs’ family is lives in Chicagoland and they are over the moon with excitement.
But is that the case in general with a city whose sports culture is so tied to how successful the Bears are?
We reached out to Bears Wire’s Alyssa Barbieri to get a pulse on how the pick is truly going over in Chicago, and she was kind enough to confirm our thoughts. It appears as though the excitement is palpable.
NEXT … What Barbieri says about Chicago and Justin Fields
How the pick of Justin Fields went over in Chicago
“The reception to new Bears quarterback Justin Fields is unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed among the Bears fan base,” Barbieri said. “It was probably the most exciting thing to happen to the city of Chicago since the Cubs won the World Series in 2016. The moment Chicago traded up and drafted Fields was a moment fans certainly won’t forget. It was everything that the Mitchell Trubisky drafting was not. Because Bears fans know just how good Fields is. For the most part, Bears fans follow a team in the Big 10, so they know firsthand just how great Fields was at Ohio State.
“The idea of Fields playing for the Bears was something that fans were afraid to hope for, only because the idea of losing out on Fields would be painful. So when Chicago managed to get arguably the steal of the draft in Fields, the pure joy that went through the Bears fan base was indescribable. Just look up any Bears fan’s reaction to the moment, and it was one of pure joy. Even current and former Bears players have shared their excitement, including safety Eddie Jackson, a clear indication that this defense has been awaiting a quarterback like Fields.
“Fields represents something that hasn’t been present in a long time — hope. Hope that this organization might actually have a clue; hope that this franchise can get back to its winning ways; and hope that Fields might actually be able to rewrite the poor quarterback narrative that’s surrounded the Bears for decades. In fact, Fields could wind up being the greatest quarterback in franchise history. While it’s not an incredibly high bar to set, it’s one that would make him a legend in Chicago forever.”
If you want to follow Justin Fields’ journey in the NFL, we recommend you bookmark and visit Bears Wire often. Barbieri and her staff will be all over Fields and what he does at the next level.
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