Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles keeps his word and trades Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers, honoring the quarterback’s wishes for 2024.
Ryan Poles promised from the start that he would do right by Justin Fields, and with his trade to the Pittsburgh Steelers, he has done so. Fields’ time with the Chicago Bears was coming to an end, as many had long assumed. With last week’s trade to Pittsburgh for a conditional sixth-round selection that might become a fourth-round pick, Poles kept his word and moved the former Bears quarterback to one of the best organizations with one of the best circumstances possible.
Ryan Pole’s connection with Justin Fields
Fields and Poles appear to have maintained a strong bond during their stay in Chicago. After being hired, Poles threw his support behind the young Bears quarterback, and the Bears’ demise began. Chicago’s squad changed dramatically over the next two years as part of the Poles’ enormous rebuilding effort. Following the 2023 season, and with the number one overall choice from Carolina, talk of Poles leaving Fields escalated from whispers to shouts.
The Bears GM promised that he would do what was best for the young QB from the start, and he followed through with that by trading him to the Steelers even though there were reportedly better offers out there.
Steelers quarterbacks didn’t get it done
Steelers fans suffered through a tough year at the quarterback position in 2023. Kenny Pickett didn’t live up to expectations even though the Steelers had a good record when he started. The question is, did they win because of him or in spite of him? On the field, his numbers were pedestrian. He played in 12 games, threw for just over 2,000 yards, and had 6 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. He left early in three of the games he started (Pittsburgh lost all three of them), and while he rarely turned the ball over, he just as rarely put the ball in the end zone.
Ryan Poles kept to his word.
Poles wanted Fields to be in a position where he could compete and perhaps gain playing time. As players signed and trades were completed, the route became more and more hazy. According to ESPN, Poles strove to locate the appropriate place for JF1, even if it meant not receiving the franchise’s best.
“A source told ESPN that five teams in addition to Pittsburgh reached out to Chicago, and the majority of those teams had envisioned the former first-round pick in a backup role. Additionally, the Steelers had been in talks with the Bears throughout the week of free agency and reached out again after sending Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday. The Bears had an additional offer with stronger draft capital from a team with an established starter, per a source, but chose to send Fields to Pittsburgh with the hope of putting the 25-year-old in a position to continue his development — first as a backup to Wilson and eventually as a starter.” –
Ryan poles speaks on making sure Justin fields is in a good situation and building strong relationships
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