Bears 2022 End of Year Awards: Picking MVP, Breakout Player of the Year and more

Alyssa Barbieri: QB Justin Fields

There’s really no competition when it comes to Justin Fields, who actually managed to keep things exciting during a 3-14 season. Heading into this season, the hope was Fields would take a step forward in his development. But I don’t think anyone expected him to emerge as one of the NFL’s most electric players, where he was setting records almost on a weekly basis coming out of the mini-bye week. He set the single-season record for rushing yards by a QB (178) and fell just 64 yards shy of breaking Lamar Jackson’s single-season rushing record. Without Fields, this miserable season would’ve been torturous.

Brendan Sugrue: QB Justin Fields

Justin Fields was the most exciting, electric, and impactful member of the Bears last season. He single-handedly kept the team in games thanks to his incredible ability to make something out of nothing and keep plays alive. He’s just the third QB in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards and broke multiple records last year. Yes, the Bears were the worst team in the league record wise. They would have been the worst in every other offensive category without Fields.

Ryan Fedrau: QB Justin Fields

It’s so hard to pick anyone else but Justin Fields as the team’s MVP. If he didn’t play at all this season, they likely would have gone 0-17. Fields passed for 17 touchdowns and 2,242 yards in his 15 starts this season.

Nate Atkins: QB Justin Fields

Although the Bears had the 23rd-best offense in the NFL, without Justin Fields’ legs, it easily would’ve been the worst in the league. Despite an effective passing game, Fields was able to use his legs to accumulate the second-most rushing yards for a quarterback in NFL history. The combination of his passing and running led to 3,385 total yards and 25 touchdowns.

Alyssa Barbieri: QB Justin Fields

Let’s be honest, Fields carried the offense on his back this season. And he was their offense. It was evident in the two games he missed due to injury (vs. Jets and Vikings), where it was just brutal to watch. Meanwhile, Fields had this same offense averaging 30 points per game at one point. Fields was a big reason why Chicago maintained the NFL’s top rushing attack throughout the 2022 season, where teams just didn’t have an answer for his elite speed and athleticism.

Brendan Sugrue: QB Justin Fields

Fields WAS the Bears offense for much of the year. He did it all, whether it was designed quarterback runs to pick up first downs or firing deep passes with poor protection. For the same reasons he’s the team’s MVP, he’s clearly the offensive player of the year.

Ryan Fedrau: QB Justin Fields

There wasn’t a more explosive player on offense than Fields. In fact, his 1,143 rushing yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games was the only exciting part of the offense this season. When Fields missed time, the team couldn’t even score, let alone move the ball. He was hands down the team’s best offensive player.

Nate Atkins: QB Justin Fields

Despite the criticism of the second-year quarterback as a passer, Fields improved as a full-time starter for the Bears. His completion percentage improved to 60.4%, his interception percentage declined, and his air yards per attempt increased.

Alyssa Barbieri: S Eddie Jackson

No one benefited more from the addition of Matt Eberflus than Eddie Jackson, who bounced back in a big way in 2022. Despite missing the final five games of the season, Jackson led the Bears with four interceptions, after not notching an interception in the previous two seasons, and two forced fumbles. He was reminiscent of his playmaking self from his first couple of seasons in the league.

Brendan Sugrue: S Eddie Jackson

Eddie Jackson had an incredible season prior to his foot injury later in the year. He led the Bears in interceptions with four, while also forcing two forced fumbles, and brought stability to the secondary. As basically the last man standing from the old regime, Jackson made sure to show he could still be counted on to make plays.

Ryan Fedrau: S Jaquan Brisker

With the trades of Roquan Smith, Khalil Mack, and Robert Quinn, the Bears defense was at a disadvantage by the end of the trade deadline. Jaquan Brisker was one of the players who stepped up on defense this season, with 104 tackles, one interception, two pass breakups, one forced fumble and led the team with 4.0 sacks as a rookie. What a great draft pick by Ryan Poles in the second round.

Nate Atkins: S Eddie Jackson

Eddie Jackson led the team in interceptions (4), forced fumbles (2), and made a return to special teams, although not as a returner. As the oldest and longest-tenured Bear on the defense, Jackson seemed to embrace a leadership role and mentored rookie safety Jaquan Brisker, who had a great year.

Alyssa Barbieri: S Jaquan Brisker

It was evident from the start that Jaquan Brisker was going to be a key contributor on defense, and he stepped up in a big way as injuries ravaged the secondary. Brisker was second in tackles (110), including five for a loss, and also led the team with 4.0 sacks. Brisker was the perfect complement to Jackson, who was able to get back to his natural free safety position and thrive.

Brendan Sugrue: LB Jack Sanborn

There’s no wrong answer between Jack Sanborn and Jaquan Brisker so I’ll go with the guy who came out of nowhere and did a heck of a job replacing one of the best linebackers in the league. Sanborn stepped up in a big way when Roquan Smith was dealt, notching double-digit tackles in three of his final four full games. When he got snaps, Sanborn was the most consistent player on defense.

Ryan Fedrau: S Jaquan Brisker

As mentioned as the defensive player of the year, Jaquan Brisker is also the Be