Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Justin Fields is willing to sit to begin his NFL career because he trusts the coaching staff. But he’ll also be working every day to take the No. 1 job.
Fields, speaking Friday before the team began rookie minicamp in Lake Forest, Ill., said he won’t rock the boat if Chicago plans to let him learn from the sideline as a rookie.
And if he’s thrust into the spotlight, where he stood Friday, Fields said it’s all good.
“I kinda feel like I’m made for this. I’m built for this. It’s nothing new to me,” Fields said at Halas Hall.
“I think everybody on our team should be striving for a starting job and if you’re not, then there’s no reason for you to be here. So, of course, I’m going to do everything that I can to get that starting job. It’s not up to me, coach Nagy has a set plan on my development and stuff like that. I’m just gonna work hard and keep my head down and just keep grinding it out everyday.”
The Bears signed Andy Dalton in free agency and former Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles remains on the roster. Former first-round pick Mitchell Trubisky was allowed to leave in free agency and signed with the Buffalo Bills.
But Chicago traded up with the New York Giants to select Fields 11th overall for a reason. The Ohio State product was the fourth quarterback chosen in the 2021 draft.
Coach Matt Nagy, speaking to NFL Network on Wednesday, was again implying a commitment to Dalton.
“The obvious one here with the draft just happening is with (Fields) and us going up to get him. We know what we have sitting in front of us with him. We gotta make sure that he has a successful entry plan and we don’t know how that’s gonna look,” Nagy said. “But at the same point and time, we have (Dalton) on our roster. Andy’s come in here and done a really good job in these Zoom meetings and he’s really excited, too, to be a big part of this and see what he can do with us. It is unique. It’s gonna be different.”
Nagy is not available this weekend due to a close contact testing positive for COVID-19. Nagy has not yet received the vaccine and is in quarantine. He’ll review workouts of Fields and others post-practice as the Bears begin developing a plan for Fields and the QB position entering training camp.
“I think it’s very important for the players to trust the coaches and the coaches to trust the players,” Fields said. “Whatever coach Nagy has planned for me, it’s what I’m going to do, and what I’m going to follow.”
–Field Level Media