The Green Bay Packers are going to have to find a new backup quarterback behind Jordan Love in 2026. After two seasons with Green Bay, Malik Willis is set to hit free agency, and has been ranked by some as the best free agent on the upcoming market. Expected to earn a salary north of $20 million a year on his next contract, Willis is going to go to a team where he can be a starting quarterback.
Meanwhile, Green Bay has Desmond Ridder and Kyle McCord already under contract, but may want a more talented and/or established arm to be in the role. After all, Willis himself came to Green Bay in a trade right before the 2024 NFL season when the Packers realized that the quarterbacks they had were not good enough to be on their active roster.
One possibility could be in one of their former rivals, Justin Fields.
Green Bay Packers could sign former Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields to backup Jordan Love
Jan 7, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Fields, of course, was a former first round pick of the Chicago Bears, but never was able to find any form of sustained, consistent success. After a season backing up Russell Wilson on the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was signed to a two-year $40 million contract last off-season by the New York Jets.
However, he did not play particularly well in New York and is expected to be released later this off-season. If that ends up being the case, he will be an attractive and affordable option for any team interested in a veteran backup quarterback, and the Packers could fit the bill according to David Haugh:
“Speaking of quarterbacks Justin Fields is on the open market. One of the rumors around the league is that he’s going to Green Bay because Luke Getsy is the quarterbacks coach there, so that would add a little bit of a nice little layer to the very interesting and and really fun Bears-Packers rivalry.”
Getsy, of course, was the offensive coordinator for a while in Chicago and has worked with Fields before. That connection could be one to watch. Additionally, it is fairly well known that Fields and Love are good friends, work out together in the off-season, and do charity events together.
For Fields, coming to Green Bay would be attractive, not just because they are Chicago’s rivals, but also because the Packers did such a great job turning Willis’ career around. If there is any coaching staff that can fix Fields’ mechanics and help him get the most out of his abilities, it is Matt LaFleur’s offensive group.
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