Fields likely to turn down Netflix's 'Quarterback'
Bears quarterback Justin Fields said Netflix has already reached out about following him during the 2023 campaign for Season 2 of the show "Quarterback." The 24-year-old QB said Tuesday that he doesn't plan on participating.
The show, produced by Peyton Manning's Omaha Productions, released Season 1 earlier this month. It followed Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes, Minnesota's Kirk Cousins and Atlanta's Marcus Mariota throughout the 2022 season and featured extensive interviews with the players, as well as interviews with coaches and players' families.
"I don't think I'm going to do it," Fields said Tuesday as Bears training camp began at Halas Hall in Lake Forest.
Fields indicated he felt like it would be a distraction for the team. He did note that "maybe down the road" he would consider participating in the show.
Fields said he never brought it up with head coach Matt Eberflus or general manager Ryan Poles because he already decided he didn't want to do it.
"I kind of already knew it would change the vibe," Fields said.
Poles, meanwhile, said any decision of that magnitude would have to be an internal discussion to see if it benefits the club.
"I know, from my position, that's a tough deal to have cameras and have to live through a whole season with it," Poles said.
The Bears have never shown any interest in participating in HBO's "Hard Knocks," so it comes as little surprise that they might not be interested in "Quarterback" either. This year, four teams were eligible to be featured on "Hard Knocks": the Bears, Saints, Jets and Commanders. The league chose to follow Aaron Rodgers and the Jets.
Teams that have a new head coach are not eligible for "Hard Knocks," neither are teams that have been to the playoffs for two straight seasons nor teams that have been featured on "Hard Knocks" within the past 10 years.
There are no such guidelines for "Quarterback," but Poles said he's torn when it comes to shows like these.
"That's a tough one because I really believe this is like a family set up where we have a lot of things going on in our building that we want to keep private," Poles said. "That's really tough. If we all threw a couple cameras in our house, in our bathrooms - kinda weird, right? But I also understand the access part of it and the fan part of it, that it's cool to see."
Fields has already been featured on one football documentary show. During high school, he was featured on Season 2 of "QB1: Beyond the Lights." The show, which was on Netflix at one point but no longer is, followed three top high school quarterbacks each season. It followed Fields during his senior season in 2017 at Harrison High School in Kennesaw, Georgia, and aired in 2018.
Fields said the experience was weird at first, but after a while he grew used to the cameras.
"It was a cool experience," Fields said. "I think a lot of people in [my] college days knew me from that show, so I think that's kind of where - not even from the football side of things - but just a lot of people would come up to me and be like, 'Weren't you on that QB1 show, this and that,' so it was cool though."
This is a huge season for the Bears and for Fields. A lot of work lies ahead for the organization as it tries to turn things around following a 3-14 season in 2022. Fields felt benefits of being on the show weren't worth the extra distraction.
"Just having cameras around the building, I think that might change the vibe of everyone," Fields said. "I just want to keep it natural and organic and really just focus on what's going on in the building.