Even before the Pittsburgh Steelers traded for quarterback Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears, head coach Mike Tomlin was a big fan of the player.
On Get Up on Tuesday, ESPN’s Jeff Darlington stated that Tomlin “has long loved Justin Fields.” They had questioned him about whether the transaction was a “knee-jerk reaction” to trading Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles or whether it represented the organization’s perception of Fields.
Adam Schefter of ESPN painted a similar picture more than a month ago, with comments that predated Pickett’s departure or the arrival of Russell Wilson. He said in February on The Pat McAfee Show that Tomlin “is a big fan of Justin Fields.”
With how everything shook out around the league, the Steelers might have been the best possible landing spot for the 25-year-old.
Even if Wilson leads the offense for Week 1, his grip on the starting job shouldn’t be unshakable. The nine-time Pro Bowler is only making $1.2 million on a one-year deal, so Pittsburgh has no compelling reason to keep him as the starter if he struggles for a long stretch. Nobody will be shocked if Fields eventually takes over as QB1.
Perhaps more importantly, the fourth-year signal-caller appears to have a coach who believes in his potential. This wasn’t a case of Tomlin simply filling out the depth chart or general manager Omar Khan capitalizing on what was a distressed asset.
The Chicago Bears didn’t take the best offer on the table for quarterback Justin Fields, according to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin.
The Bears confirmed Saturday they agreed to trade Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a conditional sixth-round pick in 2025. The pick can become a fourth-rounder if certain parameters are met.
In addressing the move, general manager Ryan Poles said the team did “what is best for both Justin and the Bears.”
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