CHICAGO — The Bears have traded quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the crew confirmed in a press release Saturday.
The Steelers despatched a 2025 sixth-round decide that converts to a fourth-round choice if Fields performs 51% of snaps this season, a supply instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Fields, who accomplished his third season with Chicago in 2023, will be part of a quarterback room with Russell Wilson, who signed a one-year cope with the Steelers on Friday.
Fields isn’t anticipated to compete with Wilson for the beginning job, a crew supply instructed ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. As a substitute, Fields is anticipated to be taught from the Tremendous Bowl winner and nine-time Professional Bowler.
In a social media post Saturday, Fields thanked the Bears group and the town of Chicago “for permitting me the chance to be a part of such a historic franchise.”
Cannot say thanks sufficient to the town of Chicago for taking me in and embracing me. Thanks to your complete Bears group and possession for permitting me the chance to be a part of such a historic franchise. However most of all thanks to my all my brothers that I performed… pic.twitter.com/fT1dORwFU5
— Justin Fields (@justnfields) March 16, 2024
Two weeks in the past on the NFL mix, Bears normal supervisor Ryan Poles addressed the thought of a Fields commerce publicly for the primary time. Poles mentioned he aimed to not go away the quarterback in limbo and hoped to “do proper” by Fields as Chicago decided its quarterback plan for the long run.
He reiterated that stance in a press release Saturday confirming the commerce.
“We have now engaged in a number of commerce conversations in latest weeks and imagine buying and selling Justin right now to Pittsburgh is what’s finest for each Justin and the Bears,” Poles mentioned. “Immediately we spoke to Justin to tell him of the commerce and the rationale behind it for us as a membership.
“We wish to thank him for his tireless dedication, management and all he poured into our franchise and neighborhood the final three years and want him the very best in direction of an extended and profitable NFL profession.”
Chicago owns the No. 1 decide within the draft and is the primary crew of the frequent draft period to have the draft’s prime choice one season after buying and selling it. In March 2023, the Bears despatched the No. 1 decide to Carolina in change for 4 draft picks — together with the Panthers’ 2024 first rounder — and vast receiver DJ Moore. Carolina’s 2-15 end in 2023 locked Chicago into the No. 1 spot within the draft order.
With Fields off the roster, the Bears are anticipated to take a quarterback in April’s first spherical.
The Bears completed with a 7-10 document in 2023, which netted them the No. 9 decide. Fields missed 4 video games throughout the season after dislocating his proper thumb. He threw for a career-best 2,562 yards, 16 touchdowns and 9 interceptions and confirmed enchancment in defending the soccer by throwing fewer picks and taking fewer sacks than he did in 2022.
Fields’ profession with the Bears ends after 38 begins, the place he accomplished 60.3% of his passes for six,674 yards, 40 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. Because the Bears transfer ahead looking for their subsequent quarterback, the method for evaluating draft-eligible signal-callers is similar as final 12 months, in accordance with Bears coach Matt Eberflus, regardless of the depth and expertise of the 2024 quarterback class and Chicago’s new offensive employees.
The Bears employed offensive coordinator Shane Waldron in January after three seasons with Seattle. Previous to the Bears transferring on from Fields, Waldron mentioned he “completely imagine[s]” that his offense will work with whom the franchise selected at quarterback.
“I felt completely different quarterbacks have been in a position to step foot into the system and be capable of be taught it rapidly,” Waldron mentioned in February. “And that begins with us with the ability to educate it in and environment friendly method the place they perceive it … as a result of every man’s gonna have a special talent set, so what course does it go? The gamers actually take possession and management of that.”
On the mix, Eberflus mentioned the Bears will weigh a quarterback’s situational consciousness and execution closely as they consider and in the end resolve who shall be beneath middle in 2024.
“I take a look at the blokes that may function third down, two-minute and the top of the sport conditions,” Eberflus mentioned. “To me that is a separator. And then you definitely take a look at toughness. Toughness for a quarterback actually is in regards to the psychological toughness to have the ability to stand within the pocket and ship the ball, and in addition to have the discernment to have the ability to transfer out of the pocket and create when it’s a necessity. They arrive in all completely different sizes and styles. It is at all times been enjoyable to judge these.”
ESPN’s Brooke Pryor contributed to this report.