The New York Jets are on the verge of sending quarterback Justin Fields to the Kansas City Chiefs, pending a physical. This move, reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter, highlights Fields' preference for joining the Chiefs, where he'll serve as a backup to Patrick Mahomes.
The trade brings the Jets a 2027 sixth-round pick from the Chiefs, as noted by Connor Hughes of SNY. Financially, the Jets benefit by trading Fields, reducing their cap hit from $10 million to $7 million, with the Chiefs covering the remaining $3 million.
Fields’ stint with the Jets was rocky, culminating in a benching mid-season. Off-field tensions were evident too, with team owner Woody Johnson openly criticizing Fields' performance.
Johnson remarked, “It’s hard when you have a quarterback with the rating that we’ve got. He has the ability, but something is not jiving.”
Fields' record as a starter for the Jets was a tough 2-7, including a narrow loss to the Steelers in Week 1. His journey to New York began when the Steelers traded a 2025 sixth-round pick for him in March 2024. Fields stepped up as a starter for Pittsburgh during Russell Wilson's injury recovery, posting a 4-2 record and showcasing his dual-threat capabilities with over 1,100 passing yards and five rushing touchdowns.
Originally drafted by the Chicago Bears as the 11th overall pick in 2021, Fields now looks to revitalize his career in Kansas City. With Mahomes recovering from an ACL injury, Fields is poised to gain valuable reps during the offseason. Depending on Mahomes’ recovery timeline, Fields might see early-season action, offering him a fresh start behind a seasoned champion.