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As someone who spent eight years with the Chicago Bears, former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler knows the organization pretty well. The QB-turned-reality-star-turned-podcast-host recently told fellow NFLer-turned-podcaster Pat McAfee what he thinks about the state of the team, head coach Matt Nagy, and general manager Ryan Pace. He also described why he believes that rookie quarterback Justin Fields is the key to both those guys’ job security moving forward.

Jay Cutler was the Chicago Bears QB for eight seasons

(L-R) Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields reviews plays with Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy during a preseason game between the Chicago Bears and the Miami Dolphins; Former Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler stands on the field prior to the game between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field in 2019.
(L-R) Matt Nagy, Justin Fields, and Jay Cutler | Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images; Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images

The Denver Broncos took Vanderbilt’s Jay Cutler No. 11 overall in the 2006 NFL Draft. After three productive seasons in the Mile High City, including a 2008 Pro Bowl appearance, the team fired coach Mike Shanahan, hired New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, and traded Cutler.

The Broncos sent Cutler and a 2009 fifth-round pick to the Chicago Bears for 2009 first- and third-round picks and another first in 2010.  

Cutler’s next eight seasons were personally very productive but produced only one playoff appearance for the franchise. The former Commodore threw for 23,443 yards and 154 touchdowns but also threw 109 interceptions. He led the league twice in this last category, in 2009 and 2014.

His overall record as the starter in Chicago is 51-51. Despite the lack of team success, he is currently the franchise leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and completions.

After retiring then returning for one season with the Miami Dolphins, Cutler walked away from the NFL for good following the 2017 season.

Cutler shared his thoughts on the current Bears QB battle between Justin Fields and Andy Dalton

Since Cutler is one of the best quarterbacks in Bears’ history (sadly true), one of former NFL punter Pat McAfee’s co-hosts on The Pat McAfee Show 2.0 asked the retired star about the current state of affairs in the Windy City.

“Do we think Matt Nagy and [Ryan] Pace is the answer for Chicago?” Zito asked. Cutler responded by admitting, “Oh God, that’s a tough question. Such a loaded question,” before launching into his answer:

It all comes down to Just Fields. If they can make it work with him at some point during the season, then [Nagy and Pace] probably bought two to three more years. If this implodes and doesn’t go the way it’s supposed to go, hell, I don’t know what’s going to happen because you look back at the draft picks — the first-round draft picks — and it hasn’t been stellar. I like Coach Nagy. I like his offense. I’ve heard nothing but good things from the guys in the locker room, so I’m a fan of his. But, you can only play what you have on the field, so we’ll see what happens.

Jay Cutler on the Chicago Bears

If Cutler is right, Nagy needs to change course as soon as possible. The second-year coach has been adamant since the NFL Draft that Dalton is the team’s starter. If this season and Fields’ development is as critical to Nagy and Pace’s job security as Cutler says, they better figure out a way to get him on the field soon.

When will the Bears start Justin Fields?  

In a moment of poetic irony (or maybe a predictor of things to come), Buffalo Bills defensive back Nick McCloud picked off Andy Dalton’s final preseason pass. Conversely, Justin Fields’ last preseason pass involved an athletic scramble to his right and a pinpoint touchdown pass on the side of the end zone to tight end Jesper Horsted.

The answer to the question, “when will the Bears start Justin Fields?” should be Week 1. However, Nagy has remained steadfast that Dalton will be under center after the opening kick on Sunday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams.

If Dalton struggles at any point in the opening few games, Nagy will likely have a quick hook. The former Kansas City Chiefs assistant will also have good opportunities to ease Fields into the NFL in Weeks 2, 4, and 5. In these games, the Bears take on what should be subpar defenses against the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, and Las Vegas Raiders, respectively.

If the Bears get past that mark without starting Fields and with a sub-.500 record that could be the final straw for both Nagy and Pace’s future with the franchise.

All stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference

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Tim Crean

Tim Crean started writing about sports in 2016 and joined Sportscasting in 2021. He excels with his versatile coverage of the NFL and soccer landscape, as well as his expertise breaking down sports media, which stems from his many years downloading podcasts before they were even cool and countless hours spent listening to Mike & The Mad Dog and The Dan Patrick Show, among other programs.

As a longtime self-professed sports junkie who even played DII lacrosse at LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York, Tim loves reading about all the latest sports news every day and considers it a dream to write about sports professionally. He’s a lifelong Buffalo Bills fan from Western New York who mistakenly thought, back in the early ’90s, that his team would be in the Super Bowl every year. He started following European soccer — with a Manchester City focus — in the early 2000s after spending far too much time playing FIFA.

When he’s not enjoying a round of golf or coaching youth soccer and flag football, Tim likes reading the work of Bill Simmons, Tony Kornheiser, Chuck Klosterman, and Tom Wolfe.