Entering his third NFL season, Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields has made a bold claim, positioning himself among the top five running quarterbacks of all time. This comes after a 2022 season where Fields rushed for an impressive 1,143 yards, the second-highest single-season total for a quarterback in NFL history, trailing only Lamar Jackson's 1,206 yards in 2019.
On the "All Things Covered" podcast, Fields confidently asserted his place among the greats. When given the option to include himself, he stated, "Oh, I am because I definitely think I am… I’m definitely in the top five." He then listed his top five, in no particular order: Michael Vick, Cam Newton, Lamar Jackson, himself, and Steve Young.
While Fields excelled on the ground, the Bears' passing game struggled significantly in 2022, ranking last in the league with an average of 130.5 passing yards per game. To address this weakness, the Bears traded the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to the Carolina Panthers for wide receiver D.J. Moore, along with additional draft capital.
Moore, a proven receiver with three 1,000-yard seasons in his five-year career, is expected to significantly bolster the Bears' passing attack. Fields has expressed optimism about their developing chemistry, noting Moore's experience and ability to read defenses. He commented in June, according to NFL Network, on how quickly their connection has formed, praising Moore's understanding of the game and how easily he communicates through his body language.
With the Bears' training camp set to begin on July 25th, the team and fans are eager to see how the improved passing game, combined with Fields' running prowess, will impact their performance in the upcoming season.
