May 21, 2024, 8:09 PM ET
The quarterback spoke for the first time about his arrival in Pittsburgh, since he was traded by Chicago
PITTSBURGH — Justin Fields received the long-awaited call while enjoying a late dinner in Italy, on March 16.
Weeks before, the Chicago Bears They informed their former quarterback, a first-round pick, in their season-ending meeting that they planned to move forward without him and would take a quarterback with the first overall pick. Finally, after a prolonged stay in limbo, going back to the 2023 campaign, Fields was informed that it had happened to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a conditional sixth round pick, around 10 pm, in Milan.
“We were in the same situation the year before, with the first global shift, and it was just a little different this year,” he said. Fields this Tuesday, chatting for the first time since the transfer. “I’m not naïve to the fact; I can read body language and stuff like that. It really wasn’t a surprise in the sense that, ‘Oh, I got traded.’ I knew it was going to happen beforehand. I’m just so grateful that I was traded.” negotiated to the place where I wanted to be.
Justin Fields promises competition against Russell Wilson for the Steelers’ starting job. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
He also added that it was a “relief” to know his fate.
Before the trade with Pittsburgh was consummated, the general manager of the Bears, Ryan Polessaid he wanted to do “the right thing” with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 Draft. After his first session of organized team activities in Pittsburgh, Fields expressed gratitude towards the leadership of the Bears.
“A recognition to Poleswe communicated with him through my agent, and I told him where I wanted to go and this is the place where I wanted to be,” he acknowledged Fields. “He delivered on that, and I appreciate him for that and I’m proud that he put me in the place where I wanted to be.”
Fields He also added that he looks back on his time with the Bears with appreciation: “There were a lot of ups and downs, but overall, I appreciate every relationship I built, all my teammates. They know that there is nothing but love for the city, for my former teammates and coaches.”
Fields He initially thought that his dream of playing in Pittsburgh It was over when the Steelers they signed Russell Wilson on the eve of the official negotiation period of the NFL. Not so fast, his agent told him.
Editorial Selections
2 Related
“Con Kenny still here, and then Russell here, I definitely thought the door had closed, so I didn’t know where I was going to end up at that point,” he revealed Fields. “But, my agent warned me a few days before Kenny [Fields] could be negotiated, and then when I saw that it actually happened, then I kind of knew where I was going at that point.”
At the time of the barter, the Steelers made it clear to Fields what Wilson was in pole position heading into the offseason, but the 25-year-old quarterback isn’t afraid of a competition against a nine-time World Cup selection. Pro Bowlchampion of Super Bowl.
“I will definitely compete,” he warned Fields. “I think that Russ He knows that we are competing against each other every day. Him being out there with me, that helps me improve, especially with each other.
“I definitely don’t have the mentality of sitting around all year. I come here every day to give everything I have and push him to be better, and he pushes me to be better every day.”
Subscribe to Star+!
Enjoy the best NFL content on ESPN, and much more, through Star+. Subscribe NOW.
Wilson echoed Fields’ statements at the end of Tuesday’s voluntary session at Pittsburghwhere the pair worked with names like wide receiver George Pickens and the tight end Pat Freiermuth to establish chemistry and familiarity in the new offense led by the coordinator Arthur Smith. While training, a handful of former Steelers, including safety Troy Polamalu I observed.
“Every day, you know, trying to be the best we can be so I can show him and vice versa, we just keep challenging each other,” he explained. Wilson. “To be the best version we can be for this football team. And, that’s the great part of it.”
As Fields, Wilson arrived in Pittsburgh after a tumultuous experience with his former team. And, although his stay in Denver ended on the bench, Wilson He said he does not feel that he has something to prove in Pittsburgh.
“I wouldn’t say I was resentful,” he noted. Wilson. “I would say that, if anything, I just learned a lot and I think that internally you improve, you get stronger. You use your experiences, you use the challenges that you’ve gone through to be the best version of yourself. And so, I don’t blink and I’m looking forward to the challenge and the opportunity.
Despite the different levels of gaming experience in the NFLso much Fields as Wilson they arrive in Pittsburgh with sufficient leadership experience, something that the head coach Mike Tomlin he noted after his first day of extended work with the pair of quarterbacks.
“They’re professionals, and so I’m so excited about it, but it doesn’t surprise me at all,” he agreed. Tomlin. “There’s an expectation there. They’ve both been franchise guys, if you will. They’ve gotten out of their cars in the morning to take on the responsibility of being chosen for a franchise, and so there’s a residual benefit from that, so I’m excited to that we are receiving it.”
2024-05-22 00:09:00
#Pittsburgh #place #wanted #quarterback #Justin #Fields
