During the 2021 NFL season, the Chicago Bears’ quarterback room was reportedly “toxic as hell.” According to NFL writer Ty Dunne, both Nick Foles and Andy Dalton were willing to mentor rookie quarterback Justin Fields. However, Fields wasn’t interested in their guidance, leading to a strained dynamic.
Foles tried to teach something to Fields in the QB room, but the rookie wasn’t paying attention—his head was down. Foles eventually gave up on mentoring Fields, and the two couldn’t stand each other. The situation got so bad that they rarely spent time together.
🚨🚨 REPORT: The #Bears QB room in 2021 was “TOXIC AS HELL,” per @TyDunne.
Foles attempted to teach Fields, but the rookie was disengaged, with his head down.
At that point Foles was done trying to play mentor to the rookie, ‘THEY HATED EACH OTHER.’
(Via… pic.twitter.com/i75cpyAVOL
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) May 13, 2024
Fans reacted as follows:
Funny how this only comes out after they traded him
— MinkahBurgh Steelers (@SteelersWin109) May 13, 2024
Has Chicago not done Fields dirty enough? Why they still going😭
— Bandwagon Sports (@BandwagonSp0rts) May 13, 2024
By all accounts Fields is the exact opposite of that, I'm just not buying it
— Pittsburgh Propaganda (@pghfourteen) May 14, 2024
Probably why Fields didn’t develop much
— 𝕾𝖔𝖚𝖑 (@NoHearttNoSoul) May 13, 2024
lol why would Fields listen to Nick Foles
— Paul Middleman (@PaulMiddle39548) May 14, 2024
Probably the most interesting assembled quarterback room in history.
— Justin David Kish • Sports Journalist (@JustinDavidKish) May 14, 2024
That sounds so made up😂😂 tryna dirty his name
— Fish (@mattcfisher01) May 14, 2024
Maybe because Foles is not good and fields is better then him with his eyes closed
— Simon Varndell (@SimonVarndell) May 14, 2024
Foles is a vet, SB champ & a man of faith, something Fields is as well supposedly. Him not being able to connect with BDN says a lot about why he is where he is right now in his career. Hopefully he's been humbled
— BigMikeMcD (@PreMoveObserver) May 14, 2024
Absolutely disgraceful. I hope this man goes out there and proves everybody wrong in Pittsburgh. And they think Caleb's going to be their savior? K.
— Lindsey🅾️❗️ (@OH_lindzbreezy) May 14, 2024
This is true and came from an ex bears coach he thought he was him and wasnt he been arrogant like that and thought that shit was gon pop like he was doing at osu why u think hea a backup now
— Suwop_Da_Great (@suwop5) May 14, 2024
Fields, Dalton, and Foles all saw playing time that season, but the quarterback room didn’t last long. Dalton signed with the New Orleans Saints in the following offseason, and Foles was cut. Fields remained with the Bears but struggled to establish himself as a franchise option. Ultimately, the team traded Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers in this year’s NFL draft.
