LAKE FOREST — Justin Fields has always had a one day at a time approach. He doesn’t look too far ahead and is primarily focused on the now.
That mindset is consistent with the 24-year-old quarterback as he prepares for the final five games of the 2023 regular season. But there is a lot on the line for Fields and his play could determine what ultimately happens once the season concludes.
The Bears currently hold the No. 1 overall pick thanks to Carolina and Chicago only has four wins through 13 weeks. Fields has had his ups and downs this season, which creates uncertainty as to what general manager Ryan Poles will do moving forward.
Given the Bears’ current position in the draft, selecting a rookie quarterback could be a realistic option. That’s been a heavily discussed topic outside of Halas Hall, and Fields was asked on Wednesday if he thinks it’s fair that people are factoring the team’s draft position, the quarterbacks in the class and how his performance in these last five games could play into his future with the team.
“Yeah, I mean, life isn’t fair,” Fields said. “So me personally, I’m just focused on what I can control, and the rest is in God’s hands. Really you just put everything in God’s hands and you know it’s going to turn out good for you. Wherever, if I’m here next year, if I’m not, football doesn’t define who I am as a person. My happiness will still be in the same place, will still be in God. And really just football wise, life stuff in general, I think my faith in God, my hope in God is just so much more than anything that can be thrown at me on this earth.
Yeah, I mean, that’s why I don’t really stress over stuff like that, over stuff that I can’t control. I know that God’s got me and I’m going to be good. I’m very blessed in the position I am in, and I think a million people would love to be in the position I am right now. So really just, I’m not taking that for granted and just taking each and every moment I have every day up here to the fullest.”
This isn’t the first time Fields has mentioned his faith in God. One of the other many examples was in a interview with GQ Sports that was released in April. Fields highlighted the top 10 things he can’t live without and mentioned his first essential is the Bible app. Fields said he uses it to get his day started, and he also has 1 John 1:9 tattooed on his chest: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Even though there is outside noise surrounding Fields, he has his faith to guide him and puts his focus on what he can control. Right now he can control how he plays in these final five games, starting with the rematch against the Detroit Lions. Fields wants to personally work on his overall consistency and also how the team finishes after the defense creates a turnover.
In the last two games, the Bears have created eight turnovers, but only have 13 points to show for the impact plays.
“I mean, the mindset is just score,” Fields said. “Of course, the better we play complementary football, the better we give our team a chance to win. Of course, we want to capitalize on those moments when the defense does give us a short field or we do have a sudden-change moment where they get a turnover or something like that. We definitely want to start turning those into touchdowns and at least three points. Yeah, definitely, we’ve got to do a better job with that, for sure.”
With five games left, Fields will focus on scoring touchdowns and doing whatever he can to add to the Bears overall win total. The rest he will leave to a higher power.
