Jets sign quarterback Justin Fields

Justin Fields (FanDuel, Wikimedia Commons)

The New York Jets have signed quarterback Justin Fields of Kennesaw, Georgia. The terms of the deal according to Mike Florio of NBC Sports are two years and $40 million. Another interesting part of the contract is that $30 million is guaranteed.

Fields is the third high profile National Football League quarterback to switch teams. The other two are Sam Darnold of Capistrano Beach, California, who signed with the Seattle Seahawks, and Geno Smith of Miramar, Florida, who was traded from the Seahawks to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Fields shared quarterbacking duties in Pittsburgh last season with Russell Wilson of Cincinnati, Ohio. In 10 games, of which he started six, Fields completed 106 passes in 161 attempts, along with 1106 passing yards, five touchdown passes and one interception. He was exceptional on the ground, as he had 62 rushes for 289 rushing yards (average of 4.7 rushing yards per attempt), and another five major scores.

The Jets were in need of a quarterback, as they decided not to being back Aaron Rodgers of Chico, California for the 2025 NFL season. Ironically, there have now been some rumours that Rodgers could soon be joining Pittsburgh. However, the chances of Russell Wilson joining the Steelers again in 2025 have increased significantly due to the fact that they have acquired wide receiver D.K. Metcalf of Oxford, Mississippi from the Seahawks in a trade. Wilson and Metcalf were teammates in Seattle from 2019 to 2021.

The Jets are the third NFL franchise Fields has played for in the past. In addition to one season with the Steelers, he played three seasons with the Chicago Bears from 2021 to 2023.