Justin Fields finds himself in a unique position as the newest addition to the Pittsburgh Steelers, serving as the backup quarterback to Russell Wilson. It’s a sentence that would have seemed improbable just a year ago, but it reflects the evolving landscape of the NFL.
Chicago traded Fields to Pittsburgh three years after selecting him 11th overall in the draft, a move aimed at making room for future No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams. However, many feel the Bears waited too long to trade their former starter and misjudged the market, receiving only a conditional sixth-round pick for him.
On the other hand, the Steelers transformed their quarterback room from Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, and Mitch Trubisky to Fields and Wilson, a move that cost them just a late-round pick and $1.2 million.
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Interestingly, the offer the Steelers made for Fields wasn’t the best one. According to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin and Brooke Pryor, the Bears actually accepted a less favorable compensation package, opting to prioritize Fields’ future development over maximizing draft capital. They had another offer on the table with stronger draft assets from a team with an established starter but chose to send Fields to Pittsburgh.
The Bears had an additional offer with stronger draft capital from a team with an established starter, per a source, but chose to send Fields to Pittsburgh with the hope of putting the 25-year-old in a position to continue his development — first as a backup to Wilson and eventually as a starter.
This decision by the Bears is unusual in the cutthroat world of the NFL, where business often takes precedence over personal considerations. It suggests that general manager Ryan Poles and the organization hold Fields in high regard, valuing his development and well-being over short-term gains.
Whether driven by belief in karma, respect for Fields, or the perceived marginal difference in draft capital, the Bears’ decision to accept a lesser deal for their former starting quarterback stands out as an unconventional move in the realm of professional football.
