Justin Fields is an American football quarterback currently playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL. He previously played college football at Ohio State, where he earned two Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year awards and led the team to the 2021 National Championship Game. Before Ohio State, Fields briefly played for the Georgia Bulldogs.
March 5, 1999: Justin Fields' Birth
On March 5, 1999, Justin Skyler Fields was born. He would later become an American professional football quarterback.
2016: Bears 0-3 Start
In 2016, the Bears had a 0-3 start, which equaled their start to the 2023 season.
October 2017: Commitment to University of Georgia
In October 2017, Justin Fields committed to the University of Georgia to play college football, withdrawing a previous commitment to Penn State.
2017: Elite 11 MVP and Season-Ending Injury
In 2017, Justin Fields was named MVP of the Elite 11 quarterback competition. Later that year during his senior season, he suffered a broken finger that required season-ending surgery.
2017: Bears 0-2 Start
In 2017, the Bears had a 0-2 start, which equaled their start to the 2023 season.
2018: Transfer Announcement to Ohio State
Following the 2018 season and Georgia's loss in the SEC Championship Game, Justin Fields announced his intent to transfer to Ohio State.
2018: QB1: Beyond the Lights Documentary
In 2018, Justin Field's senior year of high school was documented in the second season of the Netflix series QB1: Beyond the Lights.
2018: Freshman Season at Georgia
In 2018, Justin Fields played his true freshman season at Georgia, serving as backup quarterback. He made his debut and had notable performances against Austin Peay, Tennessee, and UMass.
2018: Incident at Georgia
In 2018, Justin Fields was subject to an incident at Georgia, in which a Bulldogs baseball player used a racial slur against Fields.
February 8, 2019: NCAA Immediate Eligibility Granted
On February 8, 2019, Justin Fields was granted immediate eligibility for the 2019 season by the NCAA, after seeking a waiver based on mitigating circumstances.
2019: First Season with Ohio State
In 2019, Justin Fields led Ohio State to a Big Ten Championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff, finishing third in Heisman Trophy voting and being named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.
2020: Continued Success at Ohio State
In 2020, Justin Fields led the Buckeyes to another undefeated regular season and Big Ten Championship. He was named Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year for the second time.
2020: Vocal Support for Playing Season
In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Justin Fields was vocal in his support of playing the college football season and started an online petition.
January 18, 2021: Declaration for 2021 NFL Draft
On January 18, 2021, Justin Fields announced he would forgo his final two years of eligibility and enter the 2021 NFL draft.
June 10, 2021: Signed Rookie Contract
On June 10, 2021, Justin Fields signed his four-year rookie contract with the Chicago Bears, worth $18.8 million fully guaranteed.
2021: Appearance in 2021 National Championship Game
In 2021, Justin Fields appeared in the National Championship Game as a college football player for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
2021: Drafted by Chicago Bears
In 2021, Justin Fields was selected in the first round of the NFL draft by the Chicago Bears.
2021: Epilepsy Diagnosis Public
In 2021, during pre-draft interviews, Justin Fields' epilepsy diagnosis, which he received as a freshman in high school, was made public.
2022: Injuries and Losing Streak in 2022
During the 2022 season, Justin Fields suffered a shoulder injury, missed a game, and later suffered a hip injury, leading to him missing the season finale. The Bears endured a long losing streak after a Week 7 victory.
2022: Beginning of 2022 Season
In 2022, Justin Field's season started with a victory over the 49ers. The Bears had a three game losing streak until their victory over the New England Patriots.
2022: Draft Compensation
In 2022, the Bears traded a first and fourth-round pick to the Giants as part of the compensation package to draft Justin Fields.
May 2023: Graduation from Ohio State
In May 2023, Justin Fields graduated from Ohio State with a degree in consumer and family financial services.
2023: Start of 2023 Season
In 2023, Justin Field's season began with a loss against the Packers. The Bears started 0-2 for the first time since 2017, and 0-3 for the first time since 2016.
2023: 1,000 Rushing Yards
In 2023, Justin Fields finished his second year with 1,143 rushing yards, making him the third NFL quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.
March 16, 2024: Traded to Pittsburgh Steelers
On March 16, 2024, Justin Fields was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a conditional draft pick.
October 15, 2024: Demotion to Backup Quarterback
On October 15, 2024, Justin Fields was demoted to backup quarterback duties for the Steelers, after a Steelers win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
2024: Traded to the Steelers
In 2024, Justin Fields was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers after playing three seasons with the Chicago Bears.
2024: Uncertainty About Future
In 2024, as the Bears held the first overall pick in the NFL draft, Justin Fields faced uncertainty about his future as the team's starting quarterback.
2024: Role in Package Plays
Throughout much of the 2024 season, following his benching, Justin Fields was utilized in package plays for the Steelers, contributing to their offensive strategy.
2025: Conditional Draft Pick
In 2025, the Steelers traded a conditional sixth-round pick that would have converted to a fourth if Justin Field played 51% of the teams snaps, however, he played in less than the said threshold, failing the condition to convert it to a fourth.