By Charlie Wilson
Justin Fields has sent a heartfelt message to the Chicago Bears and their fans after leaving the NFL team, ending his three-year journey.
Fields was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a sixth-round draft pick and is set to be Russell Wilson's backup. The Bears are now looking to recruit college sensation Caleb Williams, who they are likely to choose with their first selection at the April draft.
Chosen as a first-round pick himself in 2021, Fields was viewed as the future quarterback of the team and had periods of spectacular performance. However, after landing the first pick, it appears the Bears have decided to allow Fields to join the Steelers.
READ MORE: Pittsburgh Steelers' starting quarterback confirmed as Justin Fields battles Russell Wilson
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In his first statement since the trade, Fields thanked the team and it's fans. He wrote on X: "Can't say thank you enough to the city of Chicago for taking me in and embracing me. Thank you to the entire Bears organization and ownership for allowing me the opportunity to be part of such a historic franchise.
"But most of all thank you to my all my brothers that I played with. You all were the reason I attacked each day the way I did. I can't thank you all enough for what y'all have meant to me over the last three years through the ups and downs. I wish each one of you nothing but success. Ready for this next chapter!"
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Fields might find himself in a tricky spot with the Steelers, as they've already announced Wilson as the starter for the upcoming season. The 25-year-old will now aim to shine during the preseason, where he could potentially attract attention from teams around the league if Wilson indeed secures the starting position ahead of the 2024 year.
NFL Network quickly reported that a source from the Steelers said Wilson would stay as the starter, even though Pittsburgh traded for Fields. Fields was thought to be of interest to several NFL teams to potentially start this season, with the Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots needing to find their starter.
However, reportedly neither team showed any interest in trading for Fields, with the Philadelphia Eagles being the only team to make an offer before they opted for Kenny Pickett from the Steelers.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.