As the 2024 offseason starts to get into full swing, there is going to be roster turnover as always. However, this year in particular, it feels as though multiple clubs are going to have a different quarterback under center than the one that finished the 2023 season.
The Bears are included among the teams expected to make a change at the key position. While incumbent Justin Fields has shown at times that he can be a player to build around, he is coming off another mediocre year in 2023, with his rushing numbers noticeably dropping off due to injuries and a change in the Chicago offense.
Since the Bears own the No. 1 pick in a draft filled with high-end QB talent, a Fields trade is very much in play. The 2021 first-round pick has garnered interest around the league, as the 24-year-old looks to have a bright future with a potential change of scenery. Among those teams tied to Fields are the Steelers and the Falcons.
Atlanta is an intriguing option considering Fields is a native of Georgia. With that in mind, here is more to know about his hometown and path to the NFL.
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Where is Justin Fields' hometown?
Fields is a Georgia native who grew up in Kennesaw, where he played high school football at Harrison High School.
After his senior season at Harrison, he was named Mr. Georgia Football by the Touchdown Club of Atlanta. Fields also earned first-team All-State honors in 2017. His senior season was highlighted in the Netflix documentary series, "QB1: Beyond the Lights."
In addition to playing football, Fields was a standout baseball player at Harrison.
Here is a look at Fields' high school totals from his two seasons at Harrison.
- Passing yards: 4,187
- Passing TDs: 41
- Interceptions: 8
- Rushing Yards: 2,096
- Rushing TDs: 28
Stats courtesy of MaxPreps
Where did Justin Fields go to college?
Fields was highly touted coming out of high school. He was rated as a five-star recruit and was the highest-rated dual-threat quarterback in the class of 2018 by ESPN, Rivals.com, and 247Sports.com. ESPN had him as the No. 1 overall recruit in the class, while Rivals.com and 247Sports.com had him second, only trailing Trevor Lawrence, who also is a Georgia native.
After initially giving his commitment to Penn State, Fields switched gears and decided to attend Georgia, joining the Bulldogs in 2018.
Fields lasted just one season at Georgia before transferring to Ohio State. In his lone campaign with the Bulldogs, the Georgia native battled for reps as the starting QB with Jake Fromm. In total, he played 12 games in the 2018 season before declaring his intent to transfer after Georgia's loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship.
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Why did Justin Fields transfer from Georgia to Ohio State?
There were several factors that led to Fields' transfer, including Fromm's future as Georgia's top QB. While Fields saw playing time in a majority of the games, Fromm was the starter for all 14 contests while the two were at Georgia.
Another rumored element of the transfer involved an incident with a member of Georgia's baseball team. It was reported that on Sept. 29, 2018, baseball player Adam Sasser directed a racial slur at Fields. Sasser, then a senior second baseman for the program, yelled from the stands of Sanford Stadium to "put the (N-word) in" after Fromm struggled in the contest against Tennessee, with the slur directed at Fields.
While Fields made no mention of the incident when he announced his transfer, Yahoo Sports' Pat Forde reported that Fields sought a hardship waiver from the NCAA on the grounds he didn't feel comfortable playing for Georgia's baseball team. While he ended up sticking with football as a career, at the time, he was considered an MLB prospect in high school and a potential collegiate baseball player.
Fields was granted the hardship waiver on Feb. 8, 2018, allowing him to immediately be eligible to play for Ohio State. Back then, student-athletes typically had to sit out a year if they were transferring. Despite this, Fields refuted any notion that he didn't feel comfortable at Georgia:
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"I would like to thank the NCAA for its approval of the waiver allowing me to be eligible to play football this fall," Fields said in a statement. "While my case was pending before the NCAA, my family and I did not feel that it was appropriate to publicly speak about the circumstances leading to my transfer. In my silence, people began to speculate, and the story took on a life of its own.
"Now that this matter is concluded, I would like to clarify some facts. I have no regrets about my time at UGA and have no hard feelings for the school or football program. My overall experience at UGA was fully consistent with UGA’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. My sister is a softball player at UGA. I am still close friends with many of my UGA teammates. A part of me will always be a Georgia Bulldogs fan."
Justin Fields college stats
Fields spent one season with the Bulldogs, and then two seasons with the Buckeyes. In 34 games and 22 starts, he racked up these numbers (per Sports Reference):
| Season | Team | Games | Completion % | Passing Yds | Passing TDs | INTs | Rush Yds | Rush TDs |
| 2018 | Georgia | 12 | 69.2% | 328 | 4 | 0 | 266 | 4 |
| 2019 | Ohio State | 14 | 67.2% | 3,273 | 41 | 3 | 484 | 10 |
| 2020 | Ohio State | 8 | 70.2% | 2,100 | 22 | 6 | 383 | 5 |
After transferring from Georgia to Ohio State, Fields took over as the Buckeyes' starting QB in 2019. He enjoyed a very successful sophomore season, finishing third in the Heisman Trophy voting, winning the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, and being named to first-team all-conference.
In 2020, Fields was considered the preseason frontrunner to win the Heisman Trophy. The college season was shortened due to COVID-19, and while Fields did not end up a Heisman Finalist, he did repeat as Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and earned a unanimous first-team All-Conference selection.
