Reebok bets big on Bears QB Justin Fields

Reebok's partnership with Fields shows the company has high hopes for the former Ohio State star.

As Ross Dwyer notes for Hypebeast in an interview with Fields, Reebok's history in the NFL includes Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith and Peyton Manning. Defensive end J.J. Watt repped Reebok during his playing career but retired following the 2022 season, opening a door for Fields to enter.

The league previously had a 10-year deal with Reebok in which "the company [became] the exclusive rights holder to supply and market all 32 NFL teams' on-field uniforms and sideline apparel, practice apparel, and headwear." 

Reebok was left out of the league's next apparel licensing agreement, agreed to in 2010, which made Nike the lead apparel company for the NFL.

While it isn't as synonymous with team sports as it once was, Reebok has a rich history with major professional leagues. 

NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson signed a lifetime sponsorship deal with the company in 2001. Nine years earlier, Reebok landed Hall of Fame, four-time NBA champion Shaquille O'Neal.

Fields has gotten off to a slow start in the NFL but made strides during the second half of 2022. 

Early in the season following a disappointing 12-7 Thursday night loss to the Commanders, analyst Ryan Fitzpatrick criticized Fields for not being a strong pocket passer.

He turned things around following that Thursday night game in Week 6. From Weeks 1-6, Fields completed 54.8 percent of his attempts while averaging 144.8 passing yards per game with four touchdowns and five interceptions. 

During his final nine starts of the season, Fields completed 63.5 percent of his passes while only averaging slightly more yards (152.3) with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions

He became much more of a threat as a runner as the season went along, going from an average of nine carries for 47 yards from Weeks 1-6 to 11.7 carries and 95.7 yards from Week 7 and onward.

The NFC North is more up for grabs than people might think. ESPN's Football Power Index projects each team in the division to finish with between seven and nine wins.

If it's as close as it appears it might be, Fields' development could be the deciding factor. Reebok's betting on it.