Several teammates had expressed their desire for quarterback Justin Fields to remain with the Chicago Bears, but the front office made a different decision, ultimately trading Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Bears are reportedly eyeing USC quarterback Caleb Williams as their top pick in the upcoming draft.

Bears tight end Cole Kmet disclosed that he opted out of St. Patrick’s Day festivities upon learning from head coach Matt Eberflus about Fields’ trade to the Steelers. Similarly, Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson echoed these sentiments during an appearance on Up and Adams with Kay Adams.

“If you truly believe in a guy, I feel like the speculation would’ve been shot down. For me, that’s when I started preparing for it when the speculation and the questions weren’t shot down…so I was preparing myself for the worst. ‘OK, let’s already process Justin being traded.’”

Despite interest from at least four other teams, Fields had made it clear that he preferred to be traded to the Steelers, and the Bears honored his wishes. Johnson believes that the Steelers’ stable organization offers the best environment for Fields to thrive.

While the Steelers are not slated to face the Bears in the 2024 season, barring an encounter in Super Bowl LIX, they are scheduled to play in Chicago in 2025.

Fields’ exceptional athleticism adds a new dimension to the Steelers’ quarterback room, reminiscent of the era when Kordell Stewart led the team over two decades ago.

Since 2022, Fields boasts the most rushing yards by a quarterback, tallying 1,800 yards at an impressive 6.3 yards per carry. Even if he doesn’t secure the starting role, which seems likely, Justin Fields could still pose a significant threat if the Steelers incorporate him into specialized packages.

It will be interesting to see if the Chicago Bears made the right decision by ditching Fields for Williams. Only time will tell, but it’s a storyline that will be monitored closely.