Skip to main content

Terry Bradshaw: Ex-Buckeyes QB Justin Fields is a 'Gifted Young Man,' 'Can't Throw from the Pocket'

The NFL Hall of Famer said Fields has a lot of upside, but needs to improve his game if he is to live up to his full potential in the National Football League.

Professional football Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw had some constructive criticism for Chicago Bears and former Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields.

The NFL on FOX analyst said recently that, while there is plenty to like about the way the ex-Buckeyes star plays the game, more can be desired in the realm of passing from between the tackles.

"He can run like crazy, and he needs movement to create his passing," Bradshaw said. "The pocket stuff has not gotten there yet. I'm not quick to judge quarterbacks, but Jordan Love is in his fourth year, and look at what he's done."

Bradshaw went further, acknowledging the differences between when he played and the current style of the National Football League (NFL). However, the former Pittsburgh Steelers signal-caller said the decades gap between his day and Fields' doesn't apply in this case.

"I want him to do so well, and it just doesn't happen," Bradshaw said. "He does incredible things, but from the pocket -- look, I'm 75 years old, I am so old school, and I've done a good job of educating and moving myself to the modern era of the NFL, but if you can't throw from the pocket, my friend, it's hard to win in this league."

Fields started his time in college at Georgia, before transferring to Ohio State for the 2019 season. The Kennesaw, Georgia-native threw for 5,701 yards and 67 touchdowns over three years at the NCAA level, finishing with a 178.8 passer rating.

Fields began his third year in the NFL last weekend with the Bears, the team which took him off the board with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.