In this series on Bears Talk, we’ll be grading the Chicago Bears’ 2022 season, position by position. And, of course, any talk of the Bears’ 2022 campaign has to start with quarterback Justin Fields.
Fields entered his second season with questions about his long-term future in Chicago. While they seemed unfair at the time, the Bears began the 2022 season with a new general manager — Ryan Poles — and head coach — Matt Eberflus. Neither key decision-maker was in place when Justin Fields was drafted, making this year an audition for Fields in the new regime. At least, that’s how football media portrayed it.
For Bears fans, it never felt like Fields had to prove he was the answer at quarterback. He was only in Year 2 and is undoubtedly the most naturally gifted quarterback Chicago’s ever rostered. His rookie season was marred by poor playcalling and a head coach who didn’t know how to use him, and the early 2022 narrative was more of the same.