Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields is facing an uncertain future as his third NFL season nears its end.
While Fields has made improvements this season, Chicago is in a position to draft their choice of quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick (which they’re one Carolina Panthers loss away from securing). If general manager Ryan Poles opts to draft Caleb Williams or another quarterback, that would spell the end of Fields’ Bears tenure.
No one knows what Chicago will elect to do — except Poles, who might not even know himself until the evaluation process is completed. But Fields and his teammates have been asked about it ad nauseam.
Head coach Matt Eberflus recently opened up about conversations that he’s had with Fields about his future.
“I talked to him in a general sense and just in terms of the position, of being an NFL quarterback,” Eberflus told reporters Wednesday. “You’re always going to get that. So you got to keep your eyes forward and your feet where they are. That’s the most important thing. You got to focus on the here and now and improving every single day. When you do that, you’re going to get better and you’re going to be able to stay locked in on your job.
“He does that at a great rate every single week. I commend him for that. You got to be strong to do that, certainly during times of adversity. He stands on solid ground. He stands on his work ethic and the man that he is. He does that. He keeps his eyes forward and his feet where they are supposed to be.”
Fields has demonstrated his character throughout his three years in Chicago, where he’s shouldered the blame, taken responsibility and has been a great leader to his team.
Fields has received support from his teammates about being the franchise quarterback moving forward. But the only one who needs convincing is Poles, who has an important and potentially franchise-altering decision to make this offseason.