CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears traded Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night, making it possible for them to pick a quarterback with the first overall pick — likely USC’s Caleb Williams.
The Bears got a 2025 sixth-round draft pick, which could potentially turn into a fourth-rounder this year, in return.
“We have been in multiple trade talks recently and believe trading Justin to Pittsburgh at this time is the best option for both Justin and the Bears,” general manager Ryan Poles said in a statement. “Today we informed Justin about the trade and the reasons behind it for our club.
“We want to express our gratitude for his hard work, leadership, and everything he contributed to our team and community over the last three years and wish him the best in his future NFL career.”
Fields thanked Chicago, the organization, and his teammates in a post on X.
“I can’t express my gratitude enough to the city of Chicago for welcoming me and accepting me,” he tweeted. “Thanks to the entire Bears organization and ownership for giving me the chance to be part of such a historic franchise. But most importantly thank you to all my teammates. You all were the reason I approached each day the way I did. I can’t thank you all enough for what you have meant to me over the last 3 years through the good and bad times. I wish each of you nothing but success.
“Ready for this next chapter!”
Fields is expected to support nine-time Pro Bowler Russell Wilson, who signed a one-year contract with the Steelers on Friday. Pittsburgh also traded Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles once it added Wilson.
Wilson posted a picture of him and Fields shaking hands with the message: “Let’s get it justnfields! QB room about to be (fire).”
Fields, selected 11th overall in 2021 by the Bears and former general manager Ryan Pace, struggled as a rookie under former coach Matt Nagy. Although he made big plays with his running and throwing, he did not progress as a passer as much as the team had hoped in the last two years under Poles and coach Matt Eberflus.
Fields completed 578 of 958 passes for 6,674 yards with 40 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in three seasons. He has only one 300-yard passing game in his career.
Chicago could have received a large return by trading the first pick. But it’s not often that the historically quarterback-challenged Bears have the opportunity to draft a prospect like Williams. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner is widely expected to be selected first overall after throwing 72 touchdown passes with only 10 interceptions in the last two seasons at USC after a year at Oklahoma.
The trade of Fields comes two days after the Bears obtained Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers in their second deal for a star receiver in as many years.
They traded the 2023 first pick to Carolina for DJ Moore last March. The Bears also obtained the Panthers’ first-rounder this year. And with Carolina finishing with a league-worst 2-15 record, Chicago ended up with the first pick this year.
Fields, on the other hand, has an opportunity to start fresh in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers completely changed their quarterback group in the past month, with Pickett, Mitch Trubisky (released), and Mason Rudolph (signed with Tennessee) no longer with the team.
President Art Rooney II emphasized in January the need for postseason victories. The team initially supported Pickett after he served as Rudolph’s backup the previous year, but they had little choice due to Trubisky's impending release and Rudolph becoming a free agent.
There has been a rapid change, which is unusual for a team known for its stability in a league where instability is common.
It's highly likely that Wilson will start in Week 1, giving Fields time to learn first-year offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s system and start over in a career that hasn’t gone as planned.
While Fields has had accuracy problems, he also possesses the mobility that Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has desired for a long time. Tomlin had hoped Pickett could provide some of that, but Pickett struggled in his first full season as a starter in 2023, leading to uncertainty about the most important position on the field for Pittsburgh.
Four days into the new league year, those uncertainties have changed significantly.
Can Wilson rediscover the winning ability he had in Seattle? And can Fields develop into the player Chicago envisioned when they drafted him 11th overall in 2021?
