Getty Justin Fields #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts after defeating the Clemson Tigers 49-28 during the College Football Playoff semifinal game at the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 01, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Justin Fields already seems to have the right idea about the Chicago Bears’ rivalry with the Green Bay Packers.
The Bears’ first-round rookie quarterback was caught casually throwing shade at his new team’s biggest rival in the latest episode of 1920 Football Drive, a behind-the-scenes video series about the organization that offers a peek into offseason work.
In the now-viral clip from the episode, Fields was having a conversation with quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator John DeFilippo about his center at Ohio State, Josh Myers, and mentioned how his former teammate got drafted “to the wrong team.”
“Who’s that?” DeFilippo asked, laughing.
“The Packers,” Fields answered, much to the delight of Bears fans everywhere.
Justin Fields already hates Green Bay
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Bears Banking on Shift in Packers Rivalry
The Bears have been on the losing end of their rivalry with the Packers for decades now. They have won just 12 out of 42 matchups since the turn of the century and have only found victory three times in the last decade, most recently in December 2018 when Mitchell Trubisky helped Chicago to a 24-17 win at home to clinch a playoff berth.
The selection of Fields, however, has been a shot in the arm for a fanbase that seemed to have a fading pulse only a few months ago. The Bears have been trying to temper expectations for the No. 11 overall selection in 2021, but he is already one of the most significant quarterback talents the franchise has ever housed and is stepping into a market begging for a new sports superstar embraces.
No doubt, Fields still has an enormous amount to prove, beginning with his first NFL training camp later this summer. The Bears have insisted veteran Andy Dalton will be their starting quarterback heading into the 2021 season, but Fields could always win the job earlier if he quickly grasps the offense and proves he is NFL ready over the next several months. And that’s all pretext to the most important part of his legacy in Chicago: the number of wins and championships he can bring the franchise.
In the meantime, at least Bears fans can take comfort in the fact that Fields already views the Packers as the enemy. He is also no stranger to big-time rivalries after winning an entry of Ohio State-Michigan during his collegiate career.
Is Jordan Love vs. Justin Fields Coming in 2021?
The Packers have enjoyed decades of beating the pulp out of the Bears largely due to them having back-to-back Hall of Fame quarterbacks at the helm, but they, too, could be entering a new passer era in 2021 depending on how their current standoff with veteran starter Aaron Rodgers continues to unfold.
To be clear, Rodgers would have to be traded or retire in order for someone other than him to be the Packers’ starting quarterback in Week 1, but it remains to be seen how dug in he is on his reported stance of not wanting to return to the team. If he commits to staying away from Green Bay, the Packers would have no choice but to move forward with 2020 first-rounder Jordan Love as their starter sooner than expected.
Love has looked improved in his first two weeks of OTA practices this spring, but the Packers have been careful not to say directly they believe he is ready for the starting job. Quarterbacks coach Luke Getsy said Thursday “nobody really knows” how game-ready he will be until they start seeing him action during the preseason, something that the Bears could say about Fields and their own quarterback situation.
The Bears and Packers don’t clash for the first time in 2021 until mid-October, so there’s a solid chance Fields could be starting by then even if he doesn’t win the job coming out of training camp. After all, it took just four games for a rookie Trubisky to beat out Mike Glennon in 2017. As for Love, it’s anyone’s guess at this point.