Is Justin Fields the Most Important Chicago Athlete Since Michael Jordan?
The Chicago Bears traded up to take Justin Fields with the 11th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. This is not the most important thing to happen in the history of Chicago sports, but you'd be forgiven if you thought it seemed that way.
It is basically the biggest thing to happen in Chicago since the Cubs won the World Series. The city probably hasn't been as excited for a player to come to town since Michael Jordan retired from baseball. Basically, it seems like the sun has come out from behind the clouds in Chicago for the first time in decades.
Grown men wept.
I’m not crying , you’re crying
— Jeremy Piven (@jeremypiven) April 30, 2021
( he said sobbing like a grandmother ) https://t.co/bzRqZC3Fxh
They looked at each other the way that the Bears look at Justin Fields.
the moment the Bears took Justin Fields pic.twitter.com/HxEpPpBhHY
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) April 30, 2021
They were delirious.
I have been on Twitter for an extremely long time. Other than the Khalil Mack trade, I've never seen Bears fans this deliriously happy. What a night. pic.twitter.com/Fg4ELqhqwu
— James Neveau (@JamesNeveau) April 30, 2021
They felt alive.
EVERY BEAR FAN IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW #Bears #JustinFields #NFLDraft2021 pic.twitter.com/u3JC3SGCh1
— Tony Gill (@thetonygill) April 30, 2021
They allowed themselves to smile.
How it started.
— Joe Pisapia (@JoePisapia17) April 30, 2021
How it's going for @KyleYNFL @FantasyPros @MikeTagliereNFL #JustinFields #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/Q1mbslwX9S
They cheered. Unanimously. Because the Bears had done it. They had moved up in a draft and picked a guy fans wanted. A guy that might have gone No. 1 in a different timeline. A guy that many think can be the steal of the draft.
Needless to say. Bears fans are fired up about the Justin Fields picks here in Chicago. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/7wEKMa14GT
— Brandon Champion (@BrandonthaChamp) April 30, 2021
This doesn't change 2017. They still took Mitch Trubisky over Patrick Mahomes (and Deshaun Watson), but if Fields is the guy they think he can be, it will help. If he fulfills his potential in Chicago. If he makes the Chicago Bears one of the top teams in the NFL for the next decade, well, maybe they won't care about 2017 anymore. No wonder everyone is so excited.