Courtney Cronin, a seasoned writer for ESPN, has been with the network since 2017. Initially covering the Minnesota Vikings, she transitioned to the Chicago Bears beat in 2022. Cronin is a regular on the show Around the Horn and hosts Best Week Ever on ESPN Radio. Additionally, she co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. Before joining ESPN, she was a multimedia sports journalist at the San Jose Mercury News.
In a significant move, the Chicago Bears have traded quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers. This news was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Steelers have agreed to give up a sixth-round pick in 2025 for Fields. This pick could become a fourth-rounder if Fields plays in over half of this season’s games, ESPN confirmed.
After three seasons with the Bears, Fields is set to join the Steelers’ quarterback group. This group recently welcomed Russell Wilson, who signed a one-year contract with the team. Despite Wilson’s presence, Fields is not expected to challenge him for the starting position. Instead, he will have the opportunity to learn from the Super Bowl champion and nine-time Pro Bowler.
Fields expressed his gratitude towards the Bears organization and the city of Chicago in a social media post. He thanked them for the chance to be a part of such a historic franchise and for the warm welcome he received.
At the NFL combine, Ryan Poles, the Bears’ general manager, spoke about the possibility of trading Fields. He emphasized the importance of making decisions swiftly to avoid leaving anyone in uncertainty. Poles expressed his commitment to doing what’s best for the organization.
The Bears, who have the first overall pick in the upcoming draft, are expected to select a quarterback. This follows their decision to trade Fields and their acquisition of the top draft pick after trading it away the previous year. In March 2023, the Bears traded the first pick to Carolina, receiving four draft picks in return, including Carolina’s 2024 first-rounder. This trade was beneficial for the Bears as Carolina’s poor performance secured them the top spot in the draft order.
Fields’ time with the Bears saw him start 38 games, completing 60.3% of his passes for 6,674 yards, 40 touchdowns, and 30 interceptions. The Bears are now looking ahead to finding their next quarterback. According to Bears coach Matt Eberflus, the evaluation process for draft-eligible quarterbacks remains unchanged, despite the depth of the 2024 quarterback class and changes in the offensive staff.
The Bears appointed Shane Waldron as their offensive coordinator in January. Waldron, who previously worked with Seattle, believes in the adaptability of his offense to different quarterbacks. He emphasizes the importance of efficient teaching and tailoring the offense to the quarterback’s unique skill set.
Eberflus highlighted the significance of situational awareness and execution in evaluating quarterbacks. He believes that a quarterback’s ability to handle third downs, two-minute drills, and end-of-game situations is crucial. Additionally, he values toughness, both mental and physical, in a quarterback.
This report includes contributions from ESPN’s Brooke Pryor.