People think that leadership from a quarterback centers only on what they say in the huddle and how they handle themselves in the locker room. For some, that is true. Quarterbacks are expected to get the most from teammates on the field. However, there is far more to being a leader than the Xs and Os. Football is still a game played by human beings. Getting so many different personalities to follow you is not easy. It takes a special kind of person to do that. Justin Fields aims to be that kind of person.
Sure, he does the usual things expected of a quarterback. He is firm with guys in the huddle. He sets a high standard for execution on every play. Nobody works harder than him in the weight room or the film room. When teammates are frustrated, he takes them aside and calmly explains why their anger is counterproductive to what the Chicago Bears are trying to achieve. However, Fields’ greatest strength is in the little things he does. Things like going out of his way to attend multiple charities held by teammates, as both Jaylon Johnson and Eddie Jackson can attest.
Justin Fields goes the extra mile and that matters.
Several quarterbacks in this league wouldn’t find the time to fly across the country to attend charity events. They’re too focused on football or taking advantage of a down period of the off-season to rest before training camp. Fields isn’t that guy. The only thing he knows is hard work. That means at everything, from molding his body into a weapon, sharpening his mind for playing quarterback, and also being the leader this organization needs to be great.
That is what it’s like to be a driven person. Johnson and Jackson don’t even play offense. They have no direct ties to Justin Fields when it comes to actual performance. Yet he’s there for them anyway. How can that not endear him to somebody? If it gets the two defensive backs to play even 1% harder on Sundays, then Fields will consider it mission accomplished. No sacrifice is too great when it comes to winning football games. It’s the little things that separate true leaders from everybody else.
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This is why you can’t find anybody with a bad word to say about Fields.
Fields has a lot to prove and accomplish before you can say he the Best QB the Bears ever had. He hasn’t proven anything yet, except that he’s driven, ultra-athletic and a great teammate. He’s got to win a lot of games just to get to the point of having a winning record as a NFL QB. The talent appears to be there though, so this year will tell us a lot because he now has a solid a O line, above average RBs and the most talented group of WRs the Bears have had in a long time.
I love this about JF. I have a feeling that Tru’ Ed’ is a leader like this too. Listen to one of his press conferences…. from the OUTSIDE it sounds like “rah rah” but I get the feeling it’s genuine. So now we have 2 great leaders… it’s ACTUALLY gonna hurt them when players ‘move on’…. I think that’s why Poles is HYPER focused on building with YOUNG players, so they can stay together (and WANT to stay together without having to be ‘the highest paid’.) I’m feeling super optomistic about 2023. (.500 or better will be ‘a success’) 2024..… Read more »
Teven Jenkins mentioned that Fields made it to his wedding in Texas and how much that meant to him. Fields has all the tangible and intangible traits that you’d want in a QB. If he can put it all together……hot damn!
Gator Joe I agree unless you are some of the Waddles or Ghosts that troll this page
I became a Justin Fields fan during his first year. I heard in his first year, he had his parents move in with him. That told me everything I wanted to know. He didn’t have to worry about anything at home and could focus 100% on learning on his craft. The Bears have a special person. No way he let’s himself fail.