The future looks uncertain for Justin Fields, the former first-round quarterback who was once considered the franchise cornerstone for the Chicago Bears. Despite being traded the first overall pick last offseason, the Bears are now in a position to make another high-profile selection, with USC quarterback Caleb Williams being a likely choice.
This development suggests that Fields’ time in Chicago might be coming to an end.
There are indications that the separation between Fields and the Bears may already be underway. Notably, Fields is not following the Bears’ official Instagram account, raising questions about whether the quarterback unfollowed the account amidst the uncertainty surrounding his future with the team.
It’s worth acknowledging that it’s unclear whether Fields was initially following the Bears, and if so, when he chose to unfollow the team. Notably, Fields’ Google cache from Sunday indicated he followed 798 people, a number that has since dropped to 778 followers, with 20 accounts seemingly unfollowed.
However, it remains uncertain if any of these unfollows include the Bears. The key observation is that, at present, Fields does not follow the team on Instagram, although he remains connected on X/Twitter. While seemingly trivial, such social media shifts often signify potential shifts in the athlete-team relationship in today’s sports landscape, making it noteworthy.
Recent reports suggest that other NFL teams initiated discussions about a potential trade for Fields during this year’s Senior Bowl, and these talks are likely to intensify leading up to the NFL Scouting Combine, a typical hotspot for trade discussions.
Ideally, Chicago would prefer to resolve Fields’ situation before the NFL Draft this spring for a smooth transition, especially if Williams is secured as the No. 1 overall pick.
