Bears OC reveals how team wants to refine QB Justin Fields

The Chicago Bears believe quarterback Justin Fields can improve as a passer without the club eliminating what makes him special as an overall offensive weapon. 

"With the running part of it, most of that is a natural thing once you’re in the moment," Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy said when speaking about Fields on Wednesday, per Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune (h/t Pro Football Talk). "But the decision-making, we’re working on every day. Timing and rhythm, we’re working on every day. And lastly, the situation you’re in. Putting that all together, you’re just increasing the football IQ so you know better when to take those opportunities and when not to." 

Fields has spent portions of the offseason working on his footwork and on getting the ball out of his hand quicker amid ongoing questions relating to his ability to routinely win games with his arm rather than his legs. While Fields finished the 2022 regular season first among all NFL quarterbacks with 1,143 rushing yards and also with eight rushing touchdowns, he ranked 32nd among qualified players with a 60.4 completion percentage.

Getsy indicated he wants Fields to continue utilizing his athleticism, but not on a run-first basis. 

"By no means will I make that guy robotic," Getsy explained. "I don’t believe in doing that with any player. But there’s a way to refine it all and improve our decision-making and trusting our timing and rhythm, and we’ll take it from there." 

Fields, a first-round pick from the 2021 draft, will be eligible for a contract extension next year. While the 24-year-old said in May that he is more worried about wins than about money at this stage of his development, it is still worth noting the Bears must decide about the signal-caller's fifth-year option attached to his rookie contract come next spring.

Daniel Jones of the New York Giants proved earlier this offseason that a young quarterback can get paid by his employer even after that club rejects a fifth-year option. But Fields likely would prefer to avoid following Jones' path by silencing critics with an impressive 2023 season playing under Getsy and head coach Matt Eberflus.