NFL Fans Hype Justin Fields as Bears' QB1 amid Rumors Matt Eberflus Won't be Fired

Even though the 2024 NFL draft is more than three months away, the Chicago Bears may have tipped their hand about what direction they are going to go by retaining head coach Matt Eberflus.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Eberflus is expected back after having extensive meetings with the Bears front office on Monday and Tuesday.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero noted there will be changes to the coaching staff, with offensive coordinator Luke Getsy being fired and a true defensive coordinator expected to be brought in with Eberflus retaining play-calling duties on that side of the ball.

All of this leaves Fields as the biggest remaining question mark for the Bears. He had the best season of his career in 2023 and in most years would have shown enough to get one more year as the starter, but circumstances have lined up to make the organization's decision a difficult one.

Bears fans seem to be intrigued by the idea of Fields remaining QB1 in 2024 now that Eberflus' job appears to be safe.

D.J. Moore vouched for Fields to return as the starter in 2024 after Sunday's season-finale against the Green Bay Packers.

"For Justin to be here? It'll be amazing," Moore said. "Nobody really wants to start all the way over and either have a losing season again or maybe have a… Joe Burrow. You could have that kind of season. You never know. It's a hit or miss."

Fans decorated the lawn outside of Halas Hall on Monday with signs urging the Bears to keep Fields (and re-sign Jaylon Johnson).

Whatever the decision ends up being, it's not an easy one to make. Fields will be learning his third offensive system in four seasons after working with Getsy (2022-23) and Bill Lazor (2021) already.

Even though Fields' play was better this season, there are still limitations that make it hard to determine his upside. The 24-year-old ranked tied for 27th out of 31 quarterbacks with at least 10 games played in completion percentage (61.4). His QBR dropped by 10 points from 2022 (56.3) to 2023 (46.2).

Fields is a dynamic playmaker because he has a big arm and tremendous rushing ability, but the Bears have to figure out if they can build an offense around that as the fifth-year option on his rookie contract has to be picked up in the next few months.

They also have to make that decision while owning the top pick in a draft with two quarterbacks regarded as bona fide options at No. 1 overall.