The Pittsburgh Steelers made significant waves this offseason, particularly at the quarterback position. They kicked things off by signing veteran Russell Wilson to a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum. Just days later, they stunned the football world with a massive trade, acquiring former Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields. Remarkably, they secured Fields for a conditional sixth-round pick, which could escalate to a fourth-round pick based on his playing time in 2024.
Former Steelers running back Merril Hoge is known for his candid football analysis, and he didn’t hold back during his recent appearance on The Bill Michaels Show. Hoge briefly criticized another team he once played for, the Bears, for their management of the former 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
“What they did to Justin Fields is probably one of the worst things you can do to any player,” said Hoge. “What I mean by that is every year he had a different coordinator. He had different learning, he had a different system, and there’s no way, I don’t care what your profession is, if you keep starting over and over, and you change things every single year, I don’t care what your skill set is, you can never get good.”
Hoge contends that the Bears organization, albeit inadvertently, positioned Fields for failure through their management of coaching staff and systems during his three seasons with the team. He further elaborated on how Fields now finds himself in a favorable situation with the Steelers, suggesting that exercising patience with him could yield significant long-term benefits.
“You can never get better. You can never evolve. You can never develop. That was unfortunate for him,” said Hoge. “Now, I actually believe he’s in a really awesome spot in Pittsburgh for that development, if they can hold on to those two years and develop him.”
During Fields’ brief stint with the Bears, lofty expectations surrounded him. Having clinched a Heisman Trophy at Ohio State and hailed as one of the most athletic quarterback prospects in recent draft history, anticipation was high. However, his journey in Chicago was fraught with challenges extending beyond the quarterback position.
“He came into a rough situation and it didn’t get easier for him,” Hoge added. “While Fields, at times, showcased impressive accuracy, as Hoge noted, his struggle emerged when pressure mounted in the pocket and collapsed around him. That accuracy became futile. This led to instances of forcing throws, resulting in both impressive touchdown numbers with 40 career touchdown passes and a concerning interception tally of 30 over his career.”
Fields possesses world-class running ability at the quarterback position, but in Pittsburgh, the offensive line, while improving, still faces challenges. According to Hoge, Fields is now in a significantly better position for his career. With the opportunity to sit behind Wilson without pressure, he can focus on continual improvement.
Currently, Wilson holds the clear starting position, with Fields slated as his backup. While he’ll compete for the starting role, for now, he’s a backup aiming to reclaim a starting spot in the NFL. Fields’ situation in Pittsburgh offers advantages. By enhancing his pocket presence and decision-making, he can emerge as a formidable quarterback in the league.
“While there’s some uncertainty surrounding him, Hoge attributes much of the blame to the Bears rather than Fields himself,” said Hoge. “Steelers’ fans eagerly anticipate Fields’ potential, hoping he can provide a long-term solution for the franchise. The arrival of new Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith adds to the optimism, offering the possibility of a more consistent environment for Fields to thrive.”
