I was curious, so I just pulled up a list of NFL QBs and I wrote down how many I think are better than Fields. I’ve got 15 names on the list. It’s possible you could argue 1 or 2 more guys could be better than him, but I wouldn’t go much beyond that. Fine, let’s say he’s the 17th best QB in the league. Then give him the benefit of the doubt with the questionable coaches and some of the surrounding pieces. How far does he move up the list if those are improved? 12th? Not sure it’s even that high and can you win the Super Bowl with the 12th best QB? Probably not. I’m basing this off what we’ve seen thus far. I’d like to believe he’s got it in him to be top 8 or 10 but I can’t make that case right now.
I love the guy and wear his shirt around town like a goof. I’m not saying I’m giving up on him, but I recognize the concerns and they’re legit. I still want to see what he can do these last few games and am still holding out hope, but I’m not feeling wonderful about it. Again, that doesn’t necessarily mean give up on him immediately, but they maybe need to seriously explore other options. We’ll see.
Worst case scenario for me is he gets hurt and misses games down the stretch. I need him out there as much as possible to see what he does.
This is my take as a fan, and it is certainly based on enjoying bears games and overall happiness with the team.
I’ll start with performance on the field. Fields has more games and I’d like to see him succeed. If he craps the bed the rest of the year my opinion will shift. The season is not over yet though and I plan to root for Ws and look forward to watching him play well. I’ve had to give up on QBs a lot earlier in their career, and I enjoy having a guy who at least might be good.
This next part is just my fandom. I like having a guy who has raw talent. It’s gives us a chance most weeks, and it’s not gone well every week so far, but it makes me look forward to game days. I also think he’s a great guy to root for. Seems like a real leader and a really good guy. The last guy who I thought was able to decently lead a team was maybe… Kyle Orton, Jim Miller? Oh boy. Not important who I pick there, but safe to say it’s been a while. I don’t see any of the QBs in college as better leaders or as likable as JF.
College guys also don’t make me feel great. I’m not a College scout but I don’t see Caleb Williams as astounding better than what fields was in college, and personally I just wouldn’t like rooting for him as much. I don’t know literally anything about Maye, but I don’t think many people are thinking we’d draft him over Caleb. I’ve also had to watch QBs get drafted, wait 3 years to see if they develop, then give up on them. Fields I have not totally given up on. And I’d like to enjoy some games in the next few years without making excuses for our QB every week. It’s nice not having to make excuses anymore and just watch a team who wins or loses (yes, hopefully more wins in the future).
Anyway, most of this stems from the amount I enjoy watching bears games and watching the guys on the team. At the end of the day I just want to enjoy watching my team. I totally get people who want to draft a QB they think will be good because they want the team to win more in 2026 or whatever, but I can have fun with this team, with a 15th best QB instead of a 30th best QB like we’ve had for long stretches on my 31 year old life. Hopefully he’s better than 15, I expect him to keep getting better whether that’s 14 or 10. A reasonable play caller and an awesome surrounding roster can do a lot for a QB who isn’t awful. No wrong answer. Personal opinion. Let me have a good time watching for a change if I’m going to pick