While the Chicago Bears remain frustrated with the quarterback position, there is no denying Caleb Williams is massive upgrade over what fans watched the last during the previous regime. No longer is the franchise stuck watching Justin Fields, knowing that one great game will inevitably be followed by infuriating performances.
Fields is an incredible athlete with all the needed tools to be an elite option at the position. However, that promise has not yielded consistent results and that haunted Fields in Chicago and continues to do so this season with the 0-7 New York Jets. This all reached a new low on Sunday, though, with head coach Aaron Glenn benching Fields in favor of Tyrod Taylor.
Now, the Jets head coach is unsure who the quarterback will be moving forward, with NFL insider Tom Pelissero reporting Glenn's postgame comments. It was noted that the coach would consult with other decision-makers who have been in this position. There simply isn't a great answer for Glenn, who must decide whether to attempt to finish out the season with Fields or turn to journeyman backup Tyrod Taylor. Neither answer is great, and it is hard to see a winnable game left on New York's schedule.
Former Bears QB Justin Fields' Continued Struggles Now Haunting Jets
It is a painfully familiar feeling for Bears fans who were stuck riding the frustrating roller coaster that is the Justin Fields Experience for far too long. This was only amplified by Football Perspective's tweet pointing out that the fewest passing yards through the first seven games in a season over the last decade belong to Justin Fields. Fields has three of the four lowest numbers, with his worst performance coming in the 2021 season, managing only 871 passing yards.
This points out just how dire things have quickly become in New York and how glad Chicago is that they have officially turned the page. Only two years ago, fans were debating whether or not the right decision was to keep Fields and trade the number one pick or opt to select a new signal caller. While there is still a debate whether or not Williams was the right choice, there is no reasonable fan or pundit who is going to argue Fields is a starting quarterback in this league.
Chicago's front office reached this conclusion, and it has taken the Jets less than half a season to find the same answer. As sad as it is to see such a talented player fail, it is clear that Fields has no business in any starting lineup. There is a reason why the Pittsburgh Steelers opted to turn to the ghost of Russell Wilson over the former Bear a season ago.
Unfortunately for the Jets, they are finding out exactly why as Bears fans enjoy a four-game winning streak and gladly put years of frustration behind them. For Fields, this appears to be the end of his career as a starting quarterback in this league.