Justin Fields went through several painful lessons when he got to the NFL. Some of them were physical. He’s one of the most sacked quarterbacks in football and the subject of multiple dirty hits whenever he runs. There was also mental stress. Not only was he a 1st round pick, but he came to the Chicago Bears with their storied history of quarterback misfires and the inevitable high expectations that brought. Plenty of people were ready to write him off after he struggled as a rookie and got off to a slow start this season.
Those people don’t like what they’ve seen lately. Fields has amassed 1600 yards, 15 touchdowns, and only three interceptions in the past six games. The Bears offense has scored at least 29 points per game for a solid month. Most of that is entirely thanks to Fields’ unique gifts. While not vocal on social media too often, the young quarterback couldn’t resist a subtle shot at his critics on his Instagram. He put up a picture of him with a simple line attached.
“The one thing they love more than a hero is to see him fail.”
For those who didn’t get the reference, that is a line from Willem Dafoe’s iconic Green Goblin character in the 2002 classic Spider-Man movie. He says those words during the final battle, trying to convince Peter Parker his efforts were utterly pointless. People would turn on him sooner or later.
Justin Fields continues to show remarkable maturity.
Remember, he is only 23 years old. Yet the way he carries himself is like a 10-year veteran. His work ethic on and off the field is almost unmatched. Not a single moment is wasted. He doesn’t sample the nightlife like others his age might. Everything is dedicated to becoming great. That is why he’s having success despite the mediocre situation around him. Great quarterbacks find a way. This organization hasn’t experienced something like this in decades. Fields isn’t somebody you can win with. He’s somebody you win because of.
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The fact he openly quotes superhero movies only makes him more relatable. It’s clear he hears the noise and uses it as fuel for his play. The louder the critics get, the better he performs. Such athletes are rare. Handling a place like Chicago isn’t easy. Justin Fields has a long way to go before he’s truly made it, but the pieces of something special are there. It falls to the Bears organization to help him realize that potential. Even Spider-Man needs help from time to time.
@Thomas – Very well stated and I couldn’t agree more.
I’ve said it repeatedly. “Bears fans are Bi-Polar” It’s a continuing Love:Hate relationship with every player. Normally it starts as Over exuberance and over-high expectations that never allow for a learning curve! Then comes the emotional crash when reality sets in that instant karma isn’t real and the player needs time to reach their potential, and the “Hate” cycle sets in! Once the player eventually reclaims their heart, the cycle resets to Love! We saw it with Fields! We are seeing it with Harry, and Velus; now just as we saw it with Jenkins. I hope the Bears Mgt. has… Read more »
This story only makes me like Fields that much more.
Haters gotta hate. Though any Bears fan isnt likely the source of that hate. More likely its fans of opponents of the Bears. Like GB, who see the teams dominance with a hall of fame QB nearing its end just as the Bears have found a QB.
Looking at you when he said that, Shady McCoy.