Chicago Bears 2022 Season Grades: Justin Fields earns high marks for near record-breaking year

In this series on Bears Talk, we’ll be grading the Chicago Bears’ 2022 season, position by position. And, of course, any talk of the Bears’ 2022 campaign has to start with quarterback Justin Fields.

Fields entered his second season with questions about his long-term future in Chicago. While they seemed unfair at the time, the Bears began the 2022 season with a new general manager — Ryan Poles — and head coach — Matt Eberflus. Neither key decision-maker was in place when Justin Fields was drafted, making this year an audition for Fields in the new regime. At least, that’s how football media portrayed it.

For Bears fans, it never felt like Fields had to prove he was the answer at quarterback. He was only in Year 2 and is undoubtedly the most naturally gifted quarterback Chicago’s ever rostered. His rookie season was marred by poor playcalling and a head coach who didn’t know how to use him, and the early 2022 narrative was more of the same.

Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports

Once Justin Fields got going, he was unstoppable

It took some time for offensive coordinator Luke Getsy to figure out the best way to use Fields in 2022. A lackluster wide receiver corps and an overmatched offensive line made it impossible for the passing game to evolve as quickly as Getsy hoped. The offense pivoted to Fields using his legs as the Bears’ best weapon around midseason, and the result was near-record-breaking.

Fields finished 2022 with the second-most rushing yards in a season by a quarterback, and it’s fair to assume he would’ve broken Lamar Jackson’s record (set in 2019) if he wasn’t forced out of the season finale with a hip injury.

Fields ended 2022 with modest passing stats: 192-of-318, 2,242 yards, 17 TDs, 11 INTs (60.4% completion). His critics point to his statistics as evidence to support a ludicrous narrative, that the Bears should target Alabama’s Bryce Young with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. And while it’s true Fields has to get better as a passer, it’s also true that he did Improve as the season marched on.

Imagine watching Justin Fields make a throw like this & still argue that can’t throw/isn’t a real QB.

So many people are going to look so stupid next season. #Bears #DaBears pic.twitter.com/VaOraYrAVB

— Bearsszn (@bearssznn) January 10, 2023

Michael Reaves – Getty Images

Justin Fields proved he’s a special playmaker

Justin Fields’ rushing stats — 160 carries, 1,143 yards, 8 TDs — is the real story. He was an unstoppable playmaker, dominating opposing defenses by himself. He had no legitimate supporting cast. Sure, Khalil Herbert and David Montgomery provided positive production at running back, and Darnell Mooney was OK at times before his injury, but Fields was left to pick up key third downs and game-changing touchdowns on his own.

Justin Fields will win MVP in this league. pic.twitter.com/byisLkmoQS

— Kobie Goulden (@GouldenKobie) January 13, 2023

As the 2023 offseason approaches and reinforcements are added around Justin Fields, the arrow is pointing way up.

“As we go into next year, now he’s had this experience,” Getsy said earlier this month. “He’s had opportunities to get more comfortable with the communication of the system. Hopefully, he gets more comfortable with the people around him.

“Any time you get that cohesiveness of the unit, and knowing what the culture looks like — and he’s the leader of that culture — I think all that is promising stuff.”

Beyond the stats and highlight-reel plays Fields made on a near-weekly basis, his leadership growth was remarkable. He proved to Eberflus that he has the mental makeup and professional work ethic to lead an NFL locker room. Not every quarterback has that, and it’s usually what determines a first-round success story from a bust.

But Justin Fields can’t do it alone. At least, not if the Chicago Bears want to have sustained success. He’s confident Poles will do what’s necessary to level up the roster this offseason.

“I know Ryan has a great understanding of what needs to be done around here, what holes we might need to fill and stuff like that,” Fields