Fans and media might be split on Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields in terms of his overall talent and ceiling going forward. But, the one thing no one can deny is the fact that he is one of the best athletes we've ever seen at the quarterback position.
The former Buckeye has clocked some of the fastest runs in real-time over the last couple of years. Exceeding speeds of 20 miles per hour on multiple runs, the guy is a one-man highlight reel.
Fields was drafted no. 11 overall back in the 2021 NFL Draft when the Bears traded up from no. 20 to snag the Ohio State product. Entering his fourth year now, there is a lot of uncertainty around what the future holds for Fields.
But, let's look back on his NFL Combine performance. He ran a blistering 4.45 seconds in his 40-yard dash and finished as the no. 1 overall quarterback in an athleticism score handed out by NFL.com.
Where did Bears QB Justin Fields' 40 time rank among quarterbacks?
Player | Time |
|---|---|
1. Justin Fields, Ohio State | 4.45 |
2. Zac Thomas, Appalachian State | 4.59 |
3. Feleipe Franks, Arkansas | 4.61 |
4. Kellen Mond, Texas A&M | 4.62 |
5. Ian Book, Notre Dame | 4.65 |
This is an example of a player's 40-yard dash time actually coming into play at the quarterback position. Looking at the other four on this list of 2021 prospects, none of them are a starter in the league today. In fact, it's safe to say the rest of the bunch are fighting for roster spots going forward. Fields is the only locked-and-loaded starter of the bunch.
As for how Fields stacks up with the position, historically? You might recognize a few of these names.
Where does Justin Fields' 40 time rank all-time among quarterbacks?
Player | Time (year) |
|---|---|
1. Michael Vick | 4.33 (2001) |
2. Reggie McNeal | 4.40 (2006) |
3. Robert Griffin III | 4.41 (2012) |
4. Anthony Richardson | 4.43 (2023) |
5. Justin Fields | 4.45 (2021) |
Of course, there's a big name missing from the above list. Lamar Jackson, the two-time NFL MVP and Baltimore Ravens starting quarterback, does not make the official list because he decided not to run at the Combine. Instead, he ran an unofficial 4.34 at Louisville's "Speed Day" back in 2017.
Fields clocks in as the fifth-fastest quarterback ever at the NFL Combine, and he also joins both Jackson and Michael Vick as the only quarterback ever to run for over 1,000 yards in a single season.