Bears Coach Says Justin Fields Is Aiming To Own Chicago

Justin Fields didn't have the conclusion to 2022 he wanted. The last glimpse people have of him is struggling in Detroit, going 7-of-21 for 75 yards. It concluded a frustrating year throwing the ball for the Chicago Bears quarterback. That said, he still made substantial progress from his rookie year. His passer rating is up, his TD-INT ratio has improved, and he blossomed as one of the most dangerous running quarterbacks in the NFL. With the overall lack of support he got on offense, most people should be happy with the improvement.

Yet that hasn't stopped many from calling on the Bears to cut the cord. They're encouraging GM Ryan Poles to trade Fields and use the Bears' 1st round pick on a new quarterback. It isn't easy to understand. Fields has proven he can play at the NFL level. He's still only 23 years old. It stands to reason that better protection and receivers should help him get even better. People don't seem to realize how determined the quarterback is. Nothing short of greatness will do. His position coach Andrew Janocko put it in perspective with this quote on Thursday.

“He wants this to be his franchise — he wants this to be his city. Just the way he works. Spend five minutes with the kid, and you know that he’s a dude. He’s a dog. He’s an alpha. You spend a little bit of time with him and you know. This guy, he wants to be it.”

Justin Fields aims to be in a rare company.

Not many athletes can say they owned Chicago in terms of success and star power. The names that come to mind are Walter Payton, Michael Jordan, and Derrick Rose. For those saying Frank Thomas and Sammy Sosa, both had their peaks during Jordan's era and never fully united the city behind them. Since Rose's decline in the mid-2010s, nobody else has stepped up to the mantle. Kris Bryant came close. Jimmy Butler could have if he'd stayed with the Bulls. There is a distinct lack of a superstar face of the city.

There is no doubt that Justin Fields wants to fill that void. He has the talent to do so. His athleticism alone is elite. His natural playmaking instincts are rare for any position. The young man finds himself in a similar situation Jordan was in the mid-1980s. He has no help. It took the Bulls a few years to put together a strong roster before he ascended to true G.O.A.T status. GM Ryan Poles is in the role of Jerry Krause. It's his responsibility to oversee the construction.

That effort begins in March. If he does his job, don't be surprised if Fields is considered a top five quarterback by 2024.