Justin Fields felt 'relief' upon being traded to Steelers

It seemed like it took the Bears several weeks to decide to draft Caleb Williams. But new Steelers QB Justin Fields, who’d been the starter in Chicago, knew he was headed to Pittsburgh long before anyone else did.

Fields spoke to reporters Tuesday, minutes after he completed his initial practice with the Steelers. It was the first time he’d spoken publicly about the trade that unfolded March 16. He was on vacation in Italy when he got the word he’d be moving to Steel City. He said he felt only “relief.”

Whether the former Ohio State star ends up as the Steelers QB1 or QB2 still is yet to be written. But he asked to be traded to Pittsburgh, he said. And Bears GM Ryan Poles made sure to honor his wishes. After all, Fields almost had been traded the season before. There had been an ongoing conversation between the quarterback and general manager.

“We (the Bears) were in the same situation last year with having the No. 1 pick,” Fields said. “And it was just a little bit different this year. I’m not naive to the fact that — I can read body language and stuff like that. It wasn’t really just a shock to where it’s like, ‘Oh, I got traded.’ I knew what was going to happen beforehand. So I’m just glad I got traded to the spot that I wanted to be at.”

Asked about his tenure in Chicago, Justin Fields said there were “a lot of ups and downs” but took the high road when asked if the team put him in the best situation: pic.twitter.com/ph0IqzyLZJ

— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) May 21, 2024

Fields thanks Bears GM for trading him to Steelers

Fields referred to 2023, when the Bears eventually traded the No. 1 pick to the Panthers, who then selected Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. Because of that trade, Chicago owned this year’s top pick. They kept it, traded Fields and selected Williams.

Fields said he made it clear to the Bears he’d love to go to the Steelers.

“Shoutout to Poles, we communicated to him through my agent, and I told him where I wanted to be and this was a place I wanted to be,” Fields said. “He honored that, and I appreciate him for that and glad he was able to put me in a spot where I wanted to be at.”

Then while these conversations were unfolding in Chicago, the Steelers maneuvered to sign Russell Wilson. The Broncos were releasing the 35-year-old, even though the team owed him nearly $39 million for 2024. Wilson represented an inexpensive option for a quarterback for the team that signed him. Fields heard about the Wilson signing and assumed his trade was off the table. Remember at the time, the Steelers still had Kenny Pickett, their first-round pick in 2022 and two-year starter, on the roster.

But Fields said his agent said that Pittsburgh could deal Pickett, so don’t give up.

The new look Steelers QB room ft. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields pic.twitter.com/zVCxlsxWd2

— Jenna Harner (@JennaHarner11) May 21, 2024

Few first-round quarterbacks revive career elsewhere

Fields declared Tuesday that he’s competing for the starting job. But rising to No. 1 and restarting his career may be more difficult than he thinks. He’d be the exception rather than the rule. The Pittsburgh Post Gazette reported some interesting historical details in regards to first-round quarterbacks drafted within the past decade. There are 30 of them. Baker Mayfield is the only one to be released or traded within his rookie contract to go on and start for another team. Mayfield went from the Browns to the Panthers to the Rams and then landed with the Bucs. Last season, he made his first Pro Bowl and was offensive MVP of the game.

Fields said he’s confident he’ll be an exception.

“I know I am,” he told reporters. “I’m not the same quarterback I was last year. (And) I’m not the same quarterback I was yesterday. I’m going to continue to get better each and every day. I think I have a lot of room to grow.”