Inject This Justin Fields Pre-Game Speech Into Our Veins
Justin Fields doesn’t come across as the most animated personality. This isn’t a good or bad thing. It is what it is. The obvious question is whether that even-keel mentality can make for an effective leader. He’s the quarterback of the Chicago Bears. That comes with the responsibility of elevating others around him. Getting grown adult men motivated isn’t easy. Not without a fiery personality. We caught a glimpse of how Fields does it when the Bears mic’d him up for the Atlanta Falcons game.
He interacted with teammates constantly before the game, telling them to give their best during warmups and “be great.” Yet his finest moment came during his pre-game huddle speech. It barely lasted 30 seconds, but in it, you got a full glimpse of Fields the leader, and it’s easy to see why teammates love him so much. He isn’t overly emotional. Don’t let that fool you. What he says resonates. He tells the truth and ends things with the simplest of demands. One that any self-respecting competitor loves to hear.
Justin Fields understands what guys need to hear.
There isn’t a lot of fluff in his speeches. He’s a straight-shooter. Work hard, play hard, and beat their ass. There is no misinterpreting those words. The rah-rah stuff might be suitable for some guys, but it often falls on deaf ears in the NFL. It is incredible how mature Fields sounds for being 23 years old. One would think he’s played in the league for ten years. It is another reminder of how lucky the Bears were to land him last year. In any other circumstance, he would’ve been a top five pick.
Chicago faces an interesting dilemma this weekend. Justin Fields continues nursing a shoulder injury suffered in that game against the Falcons. While winning remains the priority, the team has to consider the future. At 3-8, their season is all but over. Throwing a less-than-100% quarterback out there against a strong New York Jets defense feels like an unnecessary risk. Then again, playing through pain is nothing new for Fields. It’s one of the reasons teammates love him. He isn’t soft. He’s always there for his guys.