Justin Fields admits Steelers’ coaching is better than Bears’: ‘It’s not close’ originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Justin Fields wasn’t perfect in Chicago with the Bears.
But neither were the bears. While he was there, they encountered several shortcomings, including a lack of talent on the roster, especially on the offensive line (which fans still see today) and on the coaching staff. Fields has faced two different offenses in the three years he spent in Chicago.
After the 2023 season — Fields’ last in Chicago — the Bears fired Luke Getsy and much of the offensive staff, evidenced by the team’s disbelief in their coaching. Unfortunately, Fields was also traded away from the Bears to the Steelers.
But when asked who has the better coaching on the “Not Just Football” podcast with Cam Heyward, Fields was candid.
‘Pittsburgh. It’s not close,” Fields said immediately.
Fields has struggled since taking over as the team’s starting quarterback at the start of the season. Fields undoubtedly performed his best during their Week 3 matchup against the Chargers, when he finished with 245 passing yards, two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing) and one interception.
The fourth-year quarterback has led the Steelers to a 3-0 start to their season. However, the team does not want to name him as a starter as they wait on veteran Russell Wilson, who is recovering from a calf injury suffered before training camp and was re-injured just before Week 1.
Still, Fields’ development appears to be going more smoothly in Pittsburgh than in Chicago. The quarterback has only three games under his belt, but he was quick to praise the Steelers’ coaching. That was never the story in Chicago, especially when he talked about how hard it was to inhale the information the Bears threw at him in Year 3.
“You know, it could be coaching, I guess,” Fields said when asked what led to him playing “robotically” against the Buccaneers in Week 3 of the 2023 season. “At the end of the day, they’re doing their job when they give me what I need to look at, but ultimately I can’t think about that when the game comes. I prepare myself all week, and when the game comes, at that point it’s time to play freely: think less and play more.
“I think there have been times where I was just trying to be a perfectionist and nothing in this world was perfect,” Fields later added, referring to the information overload. “So like I said, stop thinking and just go out and play.”
After making that comment, Fields clarified that he wasn’t blaming the Bears’ coaches. He said he was trying to give details about his performance and how he needs to play better.
Fields finished the 2023 season playing 13 games with a 5-8 record as a starter. He threw for 2,562 yards and 16 touchdowns, while also throwing nine interceptions. He didn’t rush for the 1,143 yards he had in 2022, but he still put up 657 passing yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
However, it wasn’t enough production for the Bears to keep Fields around. And Fields knew he could be traded this offseason.
“I kind of felt like I was going to get traded,” Fields said. “You know, after the season you have to go to the exit meetings. They kept it quite short, they said: ‘A difficult situation here. A situation we’ve never been in before…’ It’s two different conversations if you in the same situation (with the No. 1 pick in the draft). You kind of get the feeling of what’s going to happen. At that point, it’s just training and, like, wondering where you’re going. It doesn’t really matter to me If I can choose where I want to be, I’m just happy I ended up here.”
The Bears “did a good job” on Fields, allowing him to choose which team the Bears would trade him to. Along with the Steelers, Fields said on the podcast that the Chargers, Ravens and Raiders also contacted his representation to inquire about a trade.
The Steelers got Fields for a steal. They traded for him a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The pick will convert to a fourth-rounder should Fields play in at least 51% of snaps with the Steelers this season.
The Bears drafted USC star Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, making him the next franchise signal-caller. Fields said he met him in high school, and he was by far one of the best quarterbacks on the field.
“The first time I met him, he was in high school with the Elite 11s,” Fields said. “He was night and day better than everyone else. Arm was live. There was no comparison. Him and JJ McCarthy were the best two in my opinion, when I was there to see them in Nashville they were the two best QBs that stood out the most.”
Fields’ praise of Williams is endearing. But how does that last, knowing he’s being coached under the same staff that Fields failed under and is now proving to be inferior with his current team?
On the other hand, Fields said the food in Chicago is better than in Pittsburgh.
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