Major detail revealed in Chicago Bears trade of Justin Fields

The statement released by Ryan Poles on Saturday after the Chicago Bears traded Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers revealed that the Bears had reached the point where they realized Fields was no longer the answer at the quarterback position for the team.

Poles was criticized immediately after the Fields' trade was announced due to trading away the Bears' incumbent starting quarterback for a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

While the pick has the potential to be elevated to a fourth-round selection if Fields plays in, at least, 51% of the Steelers' offensive snaps next season, it's becoming clear that the compensation for Poles did not matter.

Overall, the compensation for the Bears has nothing to do with what this trade means for the team. The Bears now have a clear path to welcome Caleb Williams as the next quarterback of the team and given how Fields' trade value quickly diminished at the start of the new league year, the focus for Poles became doing right by the former Ohio State quarterback.

While speaking with reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine last month, Poles promised to do right by Fields in the event that a trade was going to be the outcome. In the Bears' trade with the Steelers, doing right by Fields is exactly what Poles accomplished.

The Chicago Bears accomplished their goal in the trade of Justin Fields.

Multiple reports surfaced on Sunday that highlighted that Fields drew interest from at least four teams with one offer believed to be better value than what the Bears received from the Steelers. Despite the potential for better compensation, the Bears adhered to the request made by Fields' camp to trade him to the Steelers.

Poles accomplished two things with his willingness to accommodate Fields' preference to play for the Steelers. Poles avoided the toxicity that would have ensued had the Bears opened training camp with both Williams and Fields on the roster but also handled the exit of a player who was liked within the locker room with grace.

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