Justin Fields might sense his time in Chicago was up at his exit assembly in January.
Whereas Bears basic supervisor Ryan Poles did not outright inform Fields the group was going to search for one other quarterback after three uneven seasons with the gifted however inconsistent Fields working the offense, Foles did not must.
Fields might sense it in Poles’ physique language.
So when Fields acquired a name whereas consuming dinner in Italy in mid-March that he was heading to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the preliminary response wasn’t shock, however reduction shortly adopted by optimism.
Though the Steelers had simply signed Russell Wilson and tabbed him because the starter. Even understanding there was virtually no probability Pittsburgh would train Fields’ fifth-year possibility. Even dealing with uncertainty as to what occurs past 2024.
Fields remembers watching a hype video whereas at Ohio State that featured Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. After which unexpectedly, there Fields was on Tuesday, listening to Tomlin give the Steelers — Fields included — a pep speak earlier than the start of organized crew actions.
“The tradition that ‘Coach T’ has and simply the usual that the Steelers have set, this group has set, I feel that was the largest enchantment for me,” Fields stated.
The 25-year-old Fields credited Poles for placing him in a scenario the place he needed to be, even when meaning his title is not atop the depth chart.
Requested if it bothered him that he wasn’t traded to a spot the place he might begin instantly, Fields shook his head and stated he wasn’t “fearful about who was right here, none of that.”
The prospect to play for Tomlin and be a part of a franchise identified for its stability (although that could be altering contemplating the roster turnover over the previous 4 months), outweighed all the pieces else.
“I am grateful to be right here and grateful to be part of this crew,” he stated.
It is a crew that utterly revamped its offense after a first-round playoff loss to Buffalo. All three quarterbacks who began video games for the Steelers final season — Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph — are gone. So is former offensive coordinator Matt Canada and main vast receiver Diontae Johnson.
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There’s a sense of urgency throughout the group with the crew nearing eight years faraway from its most up-to-date postseason victory. Pittsburgh employed former Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith to run the offense and drafted two potential cornerstones in sort out Troy Fautanu and heart Zach Frazier.
Fields is keen to be taught from Wilson and push him on the similar time, whereas nonetheless firmly believing his finest soccer is forward of him.
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“I feel I’ve much more room to develop,” he stated. “I am nowhere close to my ceiling for certain.”
He’ll get an opportunity to try to attain it with out having the strain — no less than initially anyway — of being a franchise savior, as he was in Chicago. It is telling that whereas Wilson did a proper information convention on Tuesday in entrance of a backdrop subsequent to the apply area, Fields chatted at his locker, as backups do.
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It is a function he hasn’t been in for some time. He is conscious of and understands how issues sit for the time being. Simply do not confuse maturity with complacency.
“I am positively competing,” he stated. “I feel Russ is aware of that. We’re competing towards one another each day. Him being on the market for me helps me get higher. (We’re) pushing one another so I imply I positively do not have the mindset of me simply sitting all yr.”
Maybe as a result of he will not. The Steelers have not had a quarterback begin each recreation in the course of the season since 2018, although Wilson has confirmed fairly sturdy, lacking solely a handful of video games throughout his 12-year profession.
When he will get a chance is out of Fields’ management. For now, there’s simply an opportunity to start out over. He endured a whole lot of “ups and downs” with Chicago, although he careworn he has “nothing however love for the town, for the followers and for my previous teammates and coaches.”
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These emotions are already taking root in his city. Fields stated he is engaged in lengthy conversations with Uber drivers throughout journeys to the airport, and praised his new teammates for serving to him really feel welcome.
It did not work out as he needed in Chicago. A brand new chapter awaits.
“I am not the identical quarterback as I used to be final yr and I am not even the identical quarterback I even was yesterday,” he stated. “So I’ll proceed to get higher each day.”
Reporting by The Related Press.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Justin Fields
Russell Wilson
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