Bears general manager Ryan Poles knew what the right move was for the Bears, but that didn’t make the decision to trade quarterback Justin Fields any easier.
“Justin, this is probably one of the hardest things I’ve had to do,” Poles told reporters Monday at the NFL league’s annual meeting in Orlando. “I always bring up the empathy part, having that conversation with my people was difficult. His jersey is in his room. So it puts into perspective how difficult these movements are. But I really felt like it was better for our organization and for Justin. I said that at the combine. I wanted to do the right thing by him. We did it.
The Bears traded Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick on March 16.
Once the Poles made the deal, he and head coach Matt Eberflus called Fields to inform him of the trade.
“We had a very good conversation. I actually went to Flus and we had this conversation with him on the phone and again one of the hardest things we had to do, but I thought it was necessary that we go to the good direction.
Poles said other teams were involved in trade discussions with Fields, but he ultimately sent him to Pittsburgh because of the opportunity to potentially become the Steelers’ starter.
“There were other teams,” said the Poles. “The Steelers were just an opportunity where it was almost more like…they have a starter with Russ, but there was more of an open competition, I felt like from my perspective where there were other opportunities where there were quarterbacks who were either veterans or young guys who had already been paid, so it would have been more difficult for him to get on the field.
Polonais said trade talks surrounding Fields were quieter than expected due to the small number of teams whose needs matched Fields’ experience and contract situation. The Poles noted that many teams in need of a starting quarterback would either have to draft high or maneuver to do so.
“As you do research and we talk, you kind of have to adapt to the market,” Polonais said. “But I just think about how other teams are built, because if you look at the front end, there are probably teams looking for guys to replace in the draft. On the back end, playoff teams probably have someone in place. So it was actually a smaller group of teams.
Poles and his staff looked at every possible scenario, including the possibility of retaining Fields and drafting a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick.
Ultimately, Bears decision-makers decided it was best for all parties to keep the roster clean for the new face of the franchise.
“I know there’s been a lot of talk about Justin being there and drafting a quarterback as well,” Poles said. “We had a lot of in-depth conversations and I had some really good guys on my team to really understand how it would go in terms of the locker room, how it would go with a kid that needs a lot of reps, how would that happen with the command and leadership that you need at that position and we thought it was probably best to move on and allow a young quarterback to come in and play that role .
Poles made it clear how much he and Eberflus liked Fields as a person and respected the work he has done over the past two seasons. Poles said Fields was “positive” when informed of the trade.
Poles and Eberflus also made sure to call top Bears executives to inform them of the trade. The Bears general manager said he wants to be transparent with his players and wants them to do the same.
“You could tell they really enjoyed it.” It was “you don’t need to do this,” but we think we should do it. I think it goes a long way with our guys.
The Poles and Bears are now focused solely on selecting one quarterback — likely USC’s Caleb Williams — with the No. 1 pick, while Fields has to start over in Pittsburgh.
There are myriad reasons why things didn’t work out for Fields in Chicago. But ultimately the Poles’ decision depends on how much progress has been made, how much progress remains to be made, and how much it costs to see if the potential is reached.
“I feel like he was making progress and getting better,” Polonais said of Fields. “The problem, and this is what I’m trying to explain, is that it wasn’t Justin against one of these rookies. It’s really the timing and length of runway you have. To get a guy off the ground, you have to back him up with as much talent as possible. So it matches. It takes up so much cap space, which is a good thing if it gets to that point.
“But they have to be the reason you start winning. It is then more difficult to add talent around them. You can look around the league, and it happens a lot. I think the teams that can maintain success throughout this period do a truly special job.
Fields is entering the final year of his rookie contract. He has a $25 million fifth-year option that the Steelers can pick up or decline and try to work out a short-term extension.
The resetting of the quarterback contract clock, coupled with the rare quarterback talent at the top of this draft class, led the Poles to make the tough but right choice for the Bears’ future and to closing the book on the Justin Fields era.
NBC Chicago
