Former Bears coach Matt Nagy still believes Justin Fields trending in right direction

The Chicago Bears fired head coach Matt Nagy three years ago, but he’ll forever be tied to quarterback Justin Fields, whose own future in Chicago is up-in-the-air.

The Bears traded up to draft Fields with the 11th pick in the 2021 NFL draft with Nagy at the helm. Unfortunately, Nagy failed to put Fields in favorable positions during his rookie season, and the team opted to move on from Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace after the 2021 season.

But it hasn’t gotten much better for Fields, who went from Nagy to Luke Getsy, another offensive coordinator who failed to build around him and instead tried to mold him to fit his scheme.

Now that Chicago has the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft — and potential generational talent Caleb Williams is available — Fields’ future with the Bears is in doubt.

During Super Bowl Opening Night, Nagy reiterated his belief in Fields and knows he’ll continue to grow — whether that’s in Chicago or elsewhere.

“You have to learn and grow from those experiences, and I think he’s done that,” Nagy said at Super Bowl Opening Night, via the Sun-Times. “Some guys do it faster than others, but I know one thing’s for sure: He’s going the right way with his growth, and that’s important.

“You look at some of the adversity he’s been through — and it’s not easy in Chicago. It’s gonna make him tougher. Whether he stays there or goes somewhere else, I know he’s very resilient, and he’s a great kid.”

General manager Ryan Poles has an important decision to make at quarterback — one that will define his tenure in Chicago. While there’s no denying Fields has made strides and is a playmaker, if Poles deems Williams the kind of generational prospect he can’t pass up, it won’t matter.

Poles will ultimately make the choice he believes is best for the Bears. If that means drafting Williams, there should be plenty of interest around the league for Fields.