Four years after the Chicago Bears traded up to select Mitchell Trubisky, they took another gamble on a first-round quarterback, this time with Justin Fields becoming the 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Despite their belief in Fields’ potential, the Bears didn’t rush him into starting immediately. With veterans Nick Foles and Andy Dalton also in the QB room, the team opted for Fields to observe and learn initially, a common approach for young quarterback prospects.
However, reports from Go Long’s Ty Dunne suggest that the Bears encountered a “toxic” atmosphere in the QB room during Fields’ rookie season, with much of the tension attributed to him.
Allegedly, both Foles and Dalton were willing to mentor Fields, but the rookie showed little interest in their guidance, leading to a strained environment described as “toxic as hell.” Instances were cited where Foles attempted to teach Fields, only to find the rookie disengaged.
The situation deteriorated to the point where the trio avoided interacting with each other at the facility, with Foles and Dalton walking together while Fields trailed behind.
Both veterans, feeling they still had more to offer, likely expected legitimate opportunities to start, especially considering Dalton’s one-year, $10 million contract. Yet, after just one season, both quarterbacks departed, with Dalton’s contract expiring and Foles being released by Chicago.
Fields’ development continued into his second season in the NFL, and now with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he aims to prove his capabilities to another organization.
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