Most people thought it was a foregone conclusion that the Chicago Bears would trade quarterback Justin Fields before next month’s NFL Draft.
After all, the Bears are expected to draft USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick and effectively start a brand-new era of Bears football.
(Or will they???)
Caleb Williams should pull an Eli Manning and tell the Chicago Bears I AIN’T COMING. pic.twitter.com/g9Mx1cggsA
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) March 18, 2024
Bears fans seeing RG3 take this morning regarding Caleb Williams pic.twitter.com/MI50VSxpjA
— Chi BC2 (@BC2__) March 18, 2024
Regardless, the Bears sent Fields packing as they traded him to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2025 conditional sixth-round pick.
Cole Kmet on the Justin Fields trade 👀 pic.twitter.com/OiKXCD9ivL
— BFR Podcast (@bfr_pod) March 18, 2024
(The pick could potentially escalate to a fourth-rounder based on Fields’ playing time as a starter. However, with Russell Wilson now the lead-man in Pittsburgh, that escalation isn’t expected to happen.)
Omar Khan and the Pittsburgh Steelers traded for Justin Fields #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/9OmjGBZxb4
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 18, 2024
Fields said his goodbyes to the Bears organization and the entire city of Chicago.
“Can’t say thank you enough to the city of Chicago for taking me in and embracing me,” Fields tweeted on X. “Thank you to the entire Bears organization and ownership for allowing me the opportunity to be part of such a historic franchise.”
“But most of all thank you to my all my brothers that I played with. You all were the reason I attacked each day the way I did. I can’t thank you all enough for what y’all have meant to me over the last 3 years through the ups and downs. I wish each one of you nothing but success. Ready for this next chapter!”
Can’t say thank you enough to the city of Chicago for taking me in and embracing me. Thank you to the entire Bears organization and ownership for allowing me the opportunity to be part of such a historic franchise. But most of all thank you to my all my brothers that I played… pic.twitter.com/fT1dORwFU5
— Justin Fields (@justnfields) March 16, 2024
There were reportedly six teams interested in possibly trading for Fields.
Interestingly, there were four teams in particular who Fields requested not to be traded to. The Steelers were reportedly his preferred team, so Bears general manager Ryan Poles did him one last solid by sending him to his destination of choice.
Chicago botched the whole Justin Fields situation 🤷♂️ @ShannonSharpe @ochocinco pic.twitter.com/mu6PafufBl
— Nightcap (@NightcapShow_) March 18, 2024
.@Keyshawn reacts to the Bears trading Justin Fields to the Steelers:
“The Steelers won this trade all day long. I have no idea what the Bears are doing.” pic.twitter.com/MDLqXOSBsr
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) March 18, 2024
“In addition to Pittsburgh, there were 5 teams that reached out to the Bears to gauge their interest on a Fields trade, but the majority of those teams envisioned Fields as a backup,” ESPN’s Courtney Cronin reported.
“Chicago wanted to use the parameters of the Sam Darnold trade (2021 6th, 2022 2nd and 4th) for compensation but had to shift towards a different return after that didn’t get yield a deal from inquiring teams.”
Some context to add here from my reporting: In addition to Pittsburgh, there were 5 teams that reached out to the Bears to gauge their interest on a Fields trade, but the majority of those teams envisioned Fields as a backup. Chicago wanted to use the parameters of the Sam… https://t.co/IplzTxwJeT
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) March 17, 2024
“Important note on the Justin Fields trade: At least four additional teams inquired about trading for Fields, but Fields’ representation asked for him not to be traded there. He wanted the #Steelers, and the #Bears did right by him,” NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport added.
Important note on the Justin Fields trade: At least four additional teams inquired about trading for Fields, but Fields’ representation asked for him not to be traded there. He wanted the #Steelers, and the #Bears did right by him. https://t.co/jE65yV0jzm
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 17, 2024
Speaking of Justin Fields and the #Steelers trade, coach Mike Tomlin reached out to Russell Wilson last night when the trade was going down to let him know he was the starter. @TomPelissero said it last night, and Tomlin views that as the plan. Fields will compete, regardless.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 17, 2024
Who do you think the four teams are that Fields did NOT want to be traded to?
If it wasn’t for their signing of Kirk Cousins, do you think the Atlanta Falcons would have been Fields’s top choice?
In the big picture, do you think Caleb Williams will end up living up to the hype???
Let’s get it @justnfields!
QB room bout to be 🔥 🔥 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Vz4R7ZFArO— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) March 17, 2024
Everyone and their mother for the last 10 weeks: “Trade Justin Fields and draft Caleb Williams”
Bears: Trades Justin to Pittsburgh
Everyone: “Here’s why the Bears suck, Caleb should pull an Eli, the Bears are idiots”
Me: pic.twitter.com/GDGlmYU4xG
— JAY🤘🏽🐻⬇️ (@Directhim) March 18, 2024
They suck then. They gonna suck now.
— Keith mcclendon (@KeithMcclendo55) March 18, 2024