Ryan Poles on Bears' trade of Justin Fields: 'Probably one of the harder things I’ve had to do'

(670 The Score) When the Bears struck their deal with the Steelers to trade quarterback Justin Fields to Pittsburgh on March 16, general manager Ryan Poles drove over to head coach Matt Eberflus’ home so they could both be on the phone to share the news to Fields.

“Probably one of the harder things I’ve had to do,” Poles told the Chicago-Sun Times on Monday at the NFL owners meetings.

The Bears acquired a conditional sixth-round pick in 2025 in return for trading Fields. That selection will elevate to a fourth-round pick if Fields plays 51% or more of the Steelers’ snaps at quarterback in 2024.

The Bears are expected to select USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Fields, 25, threw for 6,674 yards, 40 touchdowns and 30 interceptions over 40 games with the Bears from 2021-'23.

Fields was voted a captain by the Bears and celebrated by his teammates. Poles and Eberflus also spoke with several key veterans on the team following his exit.

"They understand that there is a business part to it,” Poles said. “It’s not something that just because you trade someone, you don’t like them, you don’t appreciate them.”