Giants coach has high praise for Justin Fields

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — When Brian Daboll held his final press conference before his team’s game against the Bears at the Giants’ practice facility in East Rutherford, NJ on Sunday, he made a point of mentioning his opposing quarterback.

Though they’ve never been on the same team together, the New York coach had a chance to meet Justin Fields when he was in high school and met him years before their Sunday match at MetLife Stadium.

“I recruited Justin down in Georgia,” said Daboll, who was an assistant coach in Alabama that year under Nick Saban. “That was the year he came out with (Jacksonville quarterback) Trevor (Lawrence), and they were both top-notch quarterbacks coming out of high school.

“He was an impressive, impressive player. We went and watched him, had a chance to meet him when he came to visit, his family.”

There he met the young quarterback and eventually watched him succeed after a transfer from Georgia, Ohio. Now in the NFL as the No. 1 quarterback for the Bears, Fields was quick to earn praise from Daboll as he prepared to meet him this Sunday.

“I have a lot of respect for him, I think he’s a very talented player, athletic, but he’s a good young quarterback and I think he has a bright future,” Fields’ Daboll said.

Those are some words of encouragement from the coach as the sophomore quarterback endured a rough start to his second season in the NFL. Under first-year coordinator Luke Getsy and a host of new receivers, Fields is 23-of-45 passes with two touchdowns compared to four interceptions.

The Daboll’s Giants meet the Bears at MetLife Stadium at 12:00 p.m. Central Time.