Quarterback Justin Fields spent his first three NFL seasons with the Chicago Bears, and according to a long and detailed report from journalist Tyler Dunne, Fields’ time in Chicago was difficult from the beginning.
The Bears picked Fields 11th overall in 2021. A month earlier, Chicago had signed veteran quarterback Andy Dalton to a $10 million contract, with another veteran QB Nick Foles already on the team.
Then-head coach Matt Nagy's plan was for Fields to backup Dalton that year, but that changed early on when Dalton got injured, forcing Fields to make his first career start in Week 3.
According to Dunne, Fields didn't get along with the two veteran quarterbacks at all that year, and had particular problems with Foles. According to Dunne, the atmosphere in the Bears' QBs room among the three was 'f****** toxic as hell.'
Dunne went on to explain some surprising things about Fields specifically.
Tyler Dunne’s Report Paints Damning Portrait of Bears’ 2021 QBs Room
During the team’s 2021 season, Fields started 10 games and played in 12, completing 58.9% of his passes for 1,870 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions, also rushing for 420 yards and two TDs.
Fields struggled often during his rookie year, although he did show signs of potential in an offense that gave him few playmakers. Sources close to the team that year told Dunne that while Dalton and Foles were willing to mentor Fields, the young QB had no interest in being mentored.
'They never were together. It was always Andy and Nick walking side by side and Justin always 15 yards behind them,' a source told Dunne.
This excerpt from Dunne’s report is particularly damaging:
'There were several arguments among the QBs. Once, according to one source, Foles was trying to teach something to Fields in the QB room and — upon turning toward the rookie — Foles realized Fields wasn't even paying attention. His head was down. At that point, Foles was done trying to play mentor. The two could not stand each other.'
This wasn't the first time someone once connected to the team has mentioned Fields' conflict with Foles. Former Bears director of player personnel Josh Lucas told Windy City Gridiron's Bill Zimmerman in February of 2024 that Fields didn't get along with either Dalton or Foles, which likely explains why neither veteran stayed for long.
Fields’ Leadership Also Called Into Question
Both Foles and Dalton left Chicago after the 2021 season, and the Bears brought in a new regime led by general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus.
After two years playing under Poles and Eberflus in 2022 and 2023, the Bears traded Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers, choosing to move on by drafting quarterback Caleb Williams. Dunne's report also provided some insight into why the team may have decided to trade Fields instead of building around him.
'One source connected to the Bears locker room says the widely held belief that Fields was a strong leader is exaggerated, citing the quarterback as 'a surface level dude' who didn't form genuine relationships with teammates. He called reports that teammates love Fields 'bull****', adding that the quarterback carried himself with an unwarranted presence and lacks emotional intelligence for someone who's been a quarterback for so long,' Dunne wrote.
The Bears are hoping their string of unfortunate quarterback luck ends with Williams, who said on May 10: “To be a great leader, you have to learn how to follow first. So right now I’m following all the veterans, I’m following all the coaches. I’m listening, keeping both ears open and my mouth closed.”
We’ll soon find out if Williams can start his career off on a better note than Fields did.
