Bears Brimming with Confidence with Camp Days Away

PFF has called Jackson's 2018 season and Jairus Byrd's 2012 season the two best seasons ever for a safety. Both players were given 93.2 on the PFF grading scale. Both of them were given the highest grade ever for a safety in terms of pass coverage, as well, at 94.7.

PFF only goes back as far as 2006 and only two other defensive backs in that time earned grades in the 93s for coverage. They were Ravens safety Ed Reed in 2009 and Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel in 2006.

Tennessee Titans safety Joshua Kalu had the highest run grade ever for a safety at 93.5 last season.

It wasn't just PFF that saw Jackson's second season as spectacular. He had a 40.5 passer rating against and only 50% completions allowed in that season according to Sportradar.

Jackson went through two comparatively poor seasons once coordinator Vic Fangio left Chicago, with Chuck Pagano in charge of the defense in 2019 and 2020 and Sean Desai in 2020. Then he re-emerged last year in the Tampa-2 base system of Matt Eberflus with a strong season that included four interceptions. He was leading in Pro Bowl voting at his position until his season-ending foot injury in Week 12.

Jackson has six touchdown returns off turnovers but hasn't had one since a fumble return TD against the Rams in 2020. Charles Tillman has the defensive TD return record for the Bears with nine, including eight interception returns.

As for Fields, he ranked himself with Michael Vick, Cam Newton, Lamar Jackson and Steve Young, in no particular order. Considering his 1,563 career rushing total isn't in the top 50 among QBs rushing, it might be a bit premature but his 2022 rushing was something for the ages.

The QB who once said he patterned his game after Russell Wilson left Wilson off the list and the Broncos/Seahawks QB is third all time among QB rushers.

Vick is first with 6,109 yards. Newton has 5,628.

Fields' 2022 season total of 1,143 yards is second all time behind only Lamar Jackson with 1,206 yards in 2019. His 76.2 yards rushing per game is second behind Jackson's 2019 average of 80.4 yards a game. The 69.1 yards former Bears QB Bobby Douglass in 1972 is the third best average per game in history.

All-Time QB Rushing

1. Michael Vick 6,109 yards, 873 attempts, 7.0 yards per carry

2. Cam Newton 5,628 yards, 1,118 attempts, 5.0 ypc

3. Russell Wilson 4,966 yards, 901 attempts, 5.5 ypc

4. Randall Cunningham 4,928 yards, 775 attempts, 6.4 ypc

5. Lamar Jackson 4,437 yards, 727 attempts, 6.1 ypc

6. Steve Young 4,239 yards, 722 attempts, 5.9 ypc

7. Fran Tarkenton 3,674 yards, 675 attempts, 5.4 ypc

8. Steve McNair 3,590 yards, 669 attempts, 5.4 ypc

9. Aaron Rodgers 3,466 yards, 719 attempts, 4.8 ypc

10. Donovan McNabb 3,459 yards, 616 attempts, 5.6 ypc

(uh ... no)