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Rookie Justin Fields is the most popular guy in Chicago, and Bears fans haven’t been afraid to express it as often as possible. That’s what happens when you finally have hope that your franchise might’ve finally found its quarterback of the future.
With Andy Dalton anointed the starter, the preseason is the only opportunity fans have to see Fields in action until Matt Nagy eventually makes the switch at quarterback. It doesn’t help that Fields has proven to be the better quarterback, which hasn’t changed Nagy’s stance.
At one point in Saturday’s loss to the Bills, the boo birds descended upon Soldier Field, where they were making their feelings clear about Chicago’s stalling offense, Dalton’s struggles and their impatience waiting for Justin Fields to finally take the field.
Dalton then answered with a 73-yard touchdown to wide receiver Rodney Adams, who caught it over a defender and sprinted to the end zone.
“I didn’t hear any boos after the touchdown pass that I threw,” Dalton said. “So hopefully they’ll be cheering a lot.”
#Bears fans with a massive boo at Andy Daltonpic.twitter.com/q9ctYc8cFM
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 21, 2021
There were also cheers of “We want Fields!” as the Bears kept trotting Dalton onto the field. While Dalton’s teammate and eventual successor, Justin Fields, appreciates the fans’ support, he certainly doesn’t want Bears fans booing Dalton.
“Of course the fans are awesome,” Fields said. “They also have to realize Andy’s a human being, too. Andy’s on the field right now, so I really think it’s kind of disrespectful to Andy, them cheering my name out like that. They have to trust in Coach to make sure he’s making the right decisions. Just cheer him on, you know? That’s not helping Andy play better, to cheer my name. My advice to them would be, just cheer whoever is on the field.”
But after watching the Bears’ offense continue to look like the same, mediocre unit it’s been for the last couple of years, it’s understandable to a degree.
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