Chicago Bears: Coaches loving Justin Fields’ improvement year over year

A year ago, the Chicago Bears were entering new territory. A brand-new coaching staff, general manager and a roster that was about to be in flux; that’s where the organization was at.

Quarterback Justin Fields was going into his second season as a pro, coming off a shaky rookie campaign. He was tasked with learning a new offense and performing under circumstances which gave him hardly any weapons or protection.

Fast forward to 2023, and he’s taken enormous steps. Not to mention, Fields is going to have a few more weapons and, hopefully, an improved offensive line.

In the early stages of the Bears’ offseason program, thus far, the coaching staff has been impressed with Fields’ progress in just 12 months. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy believes Fields is “light-years ahead” of the guy going into his second season.

“The other thing is, as we evaluated Justin from last year I think the growth from where everybodyーincluding yourselvesーlike how the way that you viewed the guy and the way the team viewed the guy to where he was at this time last year, to where he is now, I think he’s just light-years ahead of where he was, and I feel like he has a ton more to grow going forward. So we’re excited to try to get the best out of him moving forward and keep working toward where we think he can go.”

If Justin Fields has taken that significant leap going into Year 3, the Chicago Bears are in for a fun season

While much of the stigma around Fields has had to do with him more as a runner than a passer, the 2023 season is about to show us a lot about who he is and what he’s truly capable of. At Ohio State, we saw the type of passer he can be. Remember, Pro Football Focus graded Fields as the top passer, beyond the sticks, that they have ever graded.

“He’s been really working on that, really good—in terms of the quick pass, drop-back pass, movement passes,” head coach Matt Eberflus recently told reporters. “And he’s really made some big strides in that area, coming so far on his own, and now coming into the Phase 2, that first week.”

Fields was a runner, in 2022, out of necessity more than anything. The Bears’ offensive line was so inconsistent in terms of how they protected (or didn’t protect) their quarterback. More often than not, Fields felt the pressure early and often.

It’s no wonder he became uncomfortable and chose to take off regularly. But, in his third year, the additions of Nate Davis, Darnell Wright and, hopefully, a healthy Cody Whitehair and Lucas Patrick, will help that cause.