Jets trade QB Justin Fields to Chiefs

Justin Fields (FanDuel, Wikimedia Commons)

The New York Jets have traded quarterback Justin Fields of Kennesaw, Georgia to the Kansas City Chiefs according to Nate Taylor and Rich Cimini of ESPN on Monday. In return, the Chiefs are sending a sixth round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft to the Jets.

The Chiefs went after a quarterback with National Football League experience because they are uncertain about the 2026 opening week status of their starting quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and a torn lateral collateral ligament in week 15 of last year’s regular season. Mahomes hopes to be back for week one, but at this time, there is no guarantee.

One reason why Fields became expendable with the Jets is because New York has decided to  bring back Geno Smith via a trade. Smith was initially with the Jets for four seasons from 2013 to 2016.

Fields is joining his fourth NFL franchise. After three seasons in Chicago from 2021 to 2023, where he was considered initially as a top prospect coming out of Ohio State, Fields played one season each with the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets.

This past season in the Big Apple, Fields posted a record of two wins and seven losses in nine games. He recorded his two victories after losing his first six games with the Jets. Fields defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 39-38 on October 26, and then the NFL’s other Ohio team, the Cleveland Browns 27-20 on November 9.

Fields completed 128 passes in 204 attempts in 2025. He had 1259 passing yards, seven touchdown passes and one interception. On the ground, Fields had 71 rushes for 383 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.