I’ve been contemplating what I would do with my Justin Fields jersey if he was no longer on the Chicago Bears come the 2024-25 season.

The brainstorming became a reality on Saturday, March 16 when he was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a sixth-round draft pick, which could become a fourth-round selection depending on playing time.

Although the decision is still undecided, it is a fact, the Justin Fields jersey I bought at Soldier Field during his rookie season in 2021, which I only bought because the vendors didn’t have Eddie Jackson jerseys.

However, even if I bought a Jackson jersey, I’d still be Bears’ jersey-less for the next season as he was released in February and hasn’t signed with a team, yet. I erroneously thought he was still with the Bears until last week.

There are many NFL experts saying Jackson is a “trap” and teams should stay away. He may have a productive season or two left, but not worth representing with an expensive jersey.

I digress and return to Fields.

The jersey may be given to a nephew. But they’re both into football and would probably fight each other over who gets to wear Uncle B’s jersey.

There is Lily Pads, Salvation Army, Nightengales, and other locations where the donation would be a worthy cause. On the other hand, what if a Green Bay Packer fan or a Minnesota Viking fan bought the jersey for a low price in order to burn, damage, ridicule or mock the Chicago Bears?

I’m not having it.

I could sell it. However, if I’m getting rid of the jersey for maybe nothing, who is going to buy it since Fields isn’t a Bear anymore and not thought of very highly after a disappointing 10-28 record in three seasons? The jersey is not autographed, but in great shape since worn less than 10 times.

Maybe I should burn it as a disgruntled believer in Fields who has been let down. The 11^th overall draft pick showed signs of athletic greatness and made a few Bears fans truly believe he could be the guy to right the wrong that has always been the Chicago quarterback with a few exceptions in Jim McMahon (who I was recently told I look like by Tom Thayer, also a member of the 1985 championship squad) and Jay Cutler.

Neither of them great or an all-time legend, just one won the lone Chicago Super Bowl and the other put up good box score numbers and quotes and facial expressions for ultimate entertainment memes and social media posts.

I could let it sit in my closet. This is probably the worst idea because I would see it every day, get mad, and ponder the bonfire idea.

The whole thought process and conversation stinks.

We, or maybe just I, wanted Fields to be the guy.

Through a different offensive coordinator each year of his young career, the 25-year old QB gave us a glimmer of hope the offense could move the ball down the field even though he had very few weapons at his disposal, especially when every running back was hurt and defenses were keyed in on wide receiver DJ Moore and tight end Cole Kmet, who I think were the only valuable ball catchers the Bears had during Fields’ tenure.

Sorry Darnell Mooney, you didn’t make the list.

The impending 2024 NFL draft will take place April 25-27 and the odds are at 100 percent the Bears are going to select Caleb Williams, the highly touted QB from USC.

In my opinion, the franchise is going to go through the same growing pains with this new QB as it did for the last three years with Fields.

This time, I’m not buying a jersey just to battle internally of what to do with it when he isn’t there in a few seasons.