(670 The Score) Before they rose the ranks to their respective positions, Bears coach Matt Nagy and Ohio State coach Ryan Day were college rivals.
Back on Nov. 4, 2000, Nagy was quarterback of No. 2 Delaware as it suffered a stunning upset loss against rival New Hampshire, which overcame a 31-3 deficit with its quarterback Day leading a comeback in a 45-44 overtime win. A friendship formed years later as Nagy and Day each went their separate paths in coaching. The two have stayed in contact, including through a call out of the blue this past fall.
Nagy wanted to know about Day's quarterback at Ohio State, Justin Fields. Day didn't mince words to Nagy: generational talent.
It was one of many conversations between Nagy and Day that led to Thursday night, when the Bears traded up nine spots to No. 11 and selected Fields with the hope that he can live up to Day's billing.
"I recognized that early on, that Justin Fields has that type of talent," Day said Friday afternoon. "That's exactly the (term) I used, was 'generational talent.'"
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After being promoted to replace Urban Meyer as Ohio State's head coach in 2019, Day inherited Fields as a prized transfer from Georgia. The Buckeyes had a first-round pick to replace in quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who led a 13-1 campaign in Meyer's final season, and Day needed a leader who could help sustain success in Columbus.
Fields was up to the challenge. He guided Ohio State to a 20-2 mark in Day's first two seasons, including an appearance in the national championship game to conclude the 2020 season despite playing through intense pain from a rib fracture.
"He demands the respect of the team because of who he is," Day said. "His character, his talent level, what he does on the field and also how he carries himself.
"He can get after you if need be, but he can also put his arm around you and connect with you that way."
That's what permeated through the conversations between Nagy and Day, which focused on Fields in the weeks and months leading to Thursday. Nagy wanted to know more about Fields than just his talent level. He would ask about Fields' work ethic, decision-making, character and more.
Day was happy to share stories about Fields -- of how he emerged from an injury tent in Ann Arbor back in 2019, telling a trainer to put his sprained knee in a brace before throwing a 30-yard touchdown pass on his first play back. Of how Fields' rib fracture made it difficult for him to get out of bed, let alone play in the national championship game, but he fought through it. Of how Fields led a petition last August for the Big Ten to conduct its season amid the pandemic, drawing support in the form of nearly 250,000 signatures that helped push the conference to return to action.
Nagy started to see Fields in the way Day has -- as a quarterback who wants to be great and can handle pressure.
"I expect myself to be a franchise quarterback," Fields said Friday from Halas Hall.
Fields, 22, was once viewed as the second-best quarterback in this draft class and was the projected No. 2 pick. That changed in the lead-up to the draft, with teams honing in on other quarterbacks -- BYU's Zach Wilson went to the Jets at No. 2 and North Dakota State's Trey Lance went to the 49ers at No. 3 -- and a few prospects at other positions instead. There were questions raised about Fields' work ethic and how his epilepsy would affect his career.
It all led to Fields falling out of the top 10, but as other teams found reasons not to draft Fields, the Bears held firm in their belief. The longstanding friendship between Nagy and Day helped bring Chicago its next quarterback, perhaps the one who will change everything.
"I feel great for them," Day said. "And I hope our relationship can help along the way.
"I'm excited for the city of Chicago to see Justin Fields."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.