The Chicago Bears don’t have to make a decision at quarterback right away. GM Ryan Poles will have time to determine what course he wants to take until mid-March if he wishes. That is when the 2024 off-season officially begins. Teams will start reshuffling their quarterback situations around that time. If Poles wants to keep Justin Fields, that will become apparent when nothing happens. If he’s intent on drafting somebody #1 overall, there is a strong likelihood Fields will be traded.

Nobody talks about how much that decision could impact the coaching staff. Many around the league refuse to believe nothing will change with Matt Eberflus and his assistants if Fields leaves. However, that is precisely the case if he stays. There is an undercurrent of belief that Fields’ return in 2024 will come with the assurance that offensive coordinator Luke Getsy will be replaced. Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune has it on pretty good authority such a plan will not be considered by the Bears.

It’s both or neither. There is no middle ground.

“IF YOU’RE STICKING WITH FIELDS, YOU STAY WITH IT TO PRESERVE CONTINUITY. BUT IF YOU DRAFT A QUARTERBACK, WHAT YOU DON’T WANT TO DO IS HAVE A SINGLE QUESTION ABOUT WHO IS COACHING HIM. THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS DRAFT A GUY, START HIM YEAR 1 WITH THIS COACH, THEN BRING IN A NEW STAFF IN YEAR 2?”

SOUND FAMILIAR, CHICAGO?

THE EXEC WENT ON: “IF I’M POLES, WHATEVER I DO, I’M MAKING A COMMITMENT AND NOT FENCE-SITTING. WE’RE ALL ON BOARD. IT’S EITHER EBERFLUS AND (LUKE) GETSY OR WE CHANGE ONE OR BOTH OUT. BUT YOU CAN’T BE CONSIDERING CHANGE NEXT YEAR.”

Justin Fields and Luke Getsy are a package deal.

The Bears have been in this situation before. People should not forget the many times the team changed offensive coordinator with Jay Cutler at quarterback. First, it was Ron Turner. Then they switched to Mike Martz for two years and again to Mike Tice. Their constant tinkering never worked. Cutler was never comfortable in any of the systems he played, often saying it took three years to truly master an offense. He never played three years under any coordinator. They don’t want Fields going down the same path.

As much as fans may hate Getsy, he’s not a complete disaster. There are things he does well, and he seems to have learned some things over the past two years. He and Justin Fields have found a working relationship where both seem comfortable. It hasn’t been perfect, but it works well enough. Unless the Bears are 100% certain they’d be getting an upgrade if they fired Getsy, which is never possible, maintaining the status quo is the only logical decision. That reality might play a big role in whether they should keep Fields at all.