Steelers acquire Justin Fields in trade with Bears

The Chicago Bears traded quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick, both teams announced Saturday.

The conditional sixth-round pick will turn into a fourth-round selection if Fields plays in at least 51% of the Steelers’ snaps this season, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

“We have engaged in multiple trade conversations in recent weeks and believe … (this) is what is best for both Justin and the Bears,” Chicago general manager Ryan Poles said in a statement.

Fields has been involved in trade rumors since the Bears landed the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Chicago is projected to take a quarterback, with USC’s Caleb Williams the top passing prospect available.

Fields thanked the city of Chicago, teammates, and the Bears’ front office.

“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,” Fields wrote. “Ready for this next chapter!”

The acquisition of Fields is the Steelers’ latest effort to remodel their entire quarterback room. The franchise signed veteran Russell Wilson as a free agent and traded former first-round pick Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles after just two seasons. Pittsburgh also released Mitch Trubisky, who started seven games over the last two years, while Mason Rudolph departed as a free agent after leading the Steelers to a 3-0 record down the stretch in 2023.

Wilson will be the Steelers’ starting quarterback while Fields serves as his backup, a source told ESPN’s Brooke Pryor.

The 35-year-old welcome Fields to the team following news of the trade.

The Steelers will need to choose whether to exercise the fifth-year option on Fields’ contract for 2025 later this offseason. The signal-caller will earn just $1.6 million in base salary in 2024, but a fifth-year option is set to cost slightly over $25.6 million guaranteed, per Spotrac.

Pittsburgh has been hunting for an answer at quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger retired following the 2021 season. Pickett, who got the first crack at being the long-term successor, struggled through two disappointing seasons. The Pitt product threw just 13 touchdowns to 13 interceptions across 25 games for the franchise and had six touchdowns and four interceptions last season before suffering an ankle injury. He did not regain the starting job when healthy.

Selected 11th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, Fields compiled a 10-28 record as a starter for the Bears and garnered a reputation for his ability as a rusher. He became one of only three quarterbacks to exceed 1,000 rushing yards in a season when he went for 1,143 in 2022, and he followed that up with 657 yards and four scores on the ground last season.

As a passer, Fields has completed 60.3% of his throws for 40 touchdowns and 30 interceptions across 40 career games.

Pittsburgh has been busy in the 2024 offseason, as Fields is joining a haul that includes Wilson, linebacker Patrick Queen, receiver Van Jefferson, and cornerback Donte Jackson. The latter was acquired in a trade for wideout Diontae Johnson.

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