Bears trade Justin Fields to Steelers for a 6th-round pick that could elevate to a 4th-rounder

(670 The Score) The Justin Fields era in Chicago is over.

The Bears have moved on from their three-year starting quarterback by trading Fields to the Steelers in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick that could turn into a fourth-rounder depending on a condition being met. The sixth-round pick will turn into a fourth-rounder if Fields plays 51% of the Steelers' offensive plays in 2024, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported. The Steelers also recently signed veteran quarterback Russell Wilson.

“We have engaged in multiple trade conversations in recent weeks and believe trading Justin at this time to Pittsburgh is what is best for both Justin and the Bears,” Bears general manager Ryan Poles said in a statement. “Today we spoke to Justin to inform him of the trade and the rationale behind it for us as a club. We want to thank him for his tireless dedication, leadership and all he poured into our franchise and community the last three years and wish him the best towards a long and successful NFL career."

Though it took a bit longer than anticipated, a trade of Fields was widely expected, and his exit paves the way for the Bears to select USC star quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, which begins on April 25.

Fields, 26, made plenty of highlight-reel plays during his Bears tenure but never proved to be a consistent passing threat. He completed 61.4% of his passes for a career-best 2,562 yards, 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 13 games in 2023. His 86.3 passer rating ranked 30th in the NFL among qualifying quarterbacks, and his 46.1 QBR ranked 23rd, according to ESPN metrics.

Fields also rushed for 657 yards in 2023, one season after he compiled 1,143 yards on the ground, the second-highest total for a quarterback in NFL history.

Fields thanked Bears fans in a post to X.

"Can’t say thank you enough to the city of Chicago for taking me in and embracing me," Fields wrote. "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 3 years through the ups and downs. I wish each one of you nothing but success. Ready for this next chapter!"

The Bears traded up to select Fields with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He was 10-28 in 38 starts in his Chicago tenure. He ascended to the starting role in the third game of his rookie season.

In Chicago, everyone’s attention regarding the quarterback position will turn to — or should we say, remain on — the NFL Draft. While the Bears are continuing to evaluate the quarterback prospects in this draft class, the widespread belief across the league is that they’re set to take Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner who has been called a generational talent by some talent evaluators.

“I just want to go to a place that wants to win,” Williams said at the NFL Combine in February. “The whole 360, from the top all the way to the guys and down to the janitors, the people that make everything run. Just everybody wants to win, everybody is a part of that and we all take care of each other.

“I don’t play for fame. I don’t play for money. I don’t play for jewels and things like that. It’s to go out there and win as many games as possible and be the best that I can.”