Justin Fields’ surprising admission on Bears’ coaches cranks up pressure on the entire franchise.

By | Niranjan Bhargav 23 Sep, 2023

If a 12-game losing skid wasn’t enough, Justin Fields has found another way to raise the stakes just in time for a trip to Arrowhead Stadium.

This week’s example of being careful with your megaphone comes from the third-year quarterback of the Chicago Bears.

No, Fields should not have publicly slammed his coaches, including offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, during his midweek news conference. And it didn’t help matters when he afterward did a classic drop-back, taking back his statements and claiming they were taken out of context.

When questioned about his issues with overthinking on the field during a 0-2 start, Fields, 24, said:

“You know, I could be coaching. They’re doing their job and providing me with things to look at, but I can’t be thinking about that when the game comes on. I prepare myself throughout the week, and then when the game arrives, it’s time to play for free. “Think less and play more.”

That’s some serious content.

Then again, it may need to be spoken. As much as Fields is on notice as he prepares to enter a noisy location that has traditionally been a house of horrors for a rookie quarterback, so is Getsy, who is in his second year leading the Bears offense to abysmal results.

Fields has yet to live up to his summer promises of improving his game despite working with a stronger supporting cast in two games. Fields have the NFL’s eighth-worst passer rating (70.7) the 26th-worst completion rate (60.6%), and while his blocking hasn’t been stellar, he has contributed to the 10 sacks he has absorbed (tied for third-most in the NFL) by occasionally holding onto the football for too long. And Shaq Barrett returned one of his three interceptions this season for a score in last week’s defeat against Tampa Bay.

Then there’s the dash. Fields and Khalil Herbert are tied for the team lead with 62 yards, but the field is half-empty. After gaining 1,143 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2022, he’s on pace to earn less than half of that in 2023 – a clear indication that something has changed to the point where the Bears aren’t utilizing the gift that made the Ohio State product special and had him claiming a few weeks ago that he was one of the top five running quarterbacks in NFL history.

If Getsy, coach Matt Eberflus, and others are attempting to force Fields to play more from the pocket, it needs to be fixed. And that may be why he suggested “coaching,” only to realize afterward that he might have been more politically acceptable.

Nonetheless, seeing Fields admit to processing difficulties was very startling. It’s the game of professional football. Quarterback is the most psychologically demanding position in sports. Some players will surely benefit from a lengthier learning curve in order to progress. Nonetheless, Fields sounded genuine in placing the responsibility on himself, lending validity to his other comments.

If the franchise quarterback is having difficulty understanding the offense, the Bears coaching staff must realize this and adapt appropriately.

In yet another attempt at damage control, general manager Ryan Poles defended Fields, stating that the coaching staff does not regard the quarterback as a “finger-pointer.” That should do it.

What a week for the Bears, who haven’t won since upsetting the Patriots last October. In addition to the Fields controversy, defensive coordinator Alan Williams left due to a health issue. Then, there were claims that the Bears had over $100,000 in maintenance equipment taken during a robbery at Soldier Field.

All of this, plus the reigning Super Bowl champions, play next on Sunday.

“My goal this week is just to say ‘eff it’ and go out there and play football the way I know how to play football,” Fields said. “That includes thinking less and just going out there and acting on instincts rather than having so much information or data in my head.”

“That’s when I’m at my best when I’m just out there playing freely and being myself.”

Patrick Mahomes, the reigning MVP, Super Bowl MVP, and game-changing legend whom the Bears famously passed on in the draft, was asked what advice he’d give Fields on how.

“Just trust in your talent,” Mahomes advised. “Trust your gut instincts.”

Mahomes did not say it, but he might have added, “Good luck coming here with that to beat me.”