The Jets will shift into Phase 3 of their offseason program next week when OTAs begin. Justin Fields, the team's new starting quarterback, has already been on the field during voluntary workouts at 1 Jets Drive.
"There's a quiet confidence about that man that's unshakable and even though he's not the most vocal person -- he's active with his body language," HC Aaron Glenn said of Fields. "He's active with his one-on-one conversations. If he has to stand in front of the guys and say something -- he will. He will. He's not one of those guys that's going to talk just to talk because sometimes if you do that, you know players around you can get deadhead. But he says things when it needs to be said."
Fields, 26, the No. 11 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, will start for his third team in five pro seasons when the Jets open the regular season in Week 1. Over 50 career games and 44 starts, Fields (6-3, 227) has completed 61.1% of his passes for 7,780 yards with 45 TDs and 31 INTs. He's also rushed for 2,509 yards and 19 scores.
"Now, he's a really good athlete," Glenn said. "He works his butt off in the weight room. He's another guy that he's doing everything he can to improve and whatever advantage he can get from coaching, strength and conditioning, being on the field, he's going to get that. He's going to take that advantage and he's going to run with it, so I'm very happy with where he's at and I'm very happy with actually all the quarterbacks that we have in this program right now and I know they're going to push each other to be better."
Fields played three seasons in Chicago before the Bears traded him to the Steelers on March 16, 2024 in exchange for a sixth-round pick. He went 4-2 as a starter last season with Pittsburgh while playing in 10 games, totaling 10 TDs and 1,395 yards against just 2 turnovers.
"I've always been a team player," Fields said in April. "I've always been advocating on putting myself behind the team, so like I said I'm not really going to get too much into depth on what happened in Chicago and what happened last year with Pittsburgh. I am grateful for all the experiences that I've had. I met a lot of great people there, built a lot of relationships that will last a lifetime, and I think of course the more time you have in the league, the more experience you have. I think I'm progressing and getting better each and every year. I'm excited to get things rolling this year."
There are a few recent examples of former early-round QBs who've revived their NFL careers at new stops. Geno Smith, a second-round pick of the Jets in 2013, averaged 4,075 yards and 24 TDs the past three seasons in Seattle before he was traded to the Raiders. Sam Darnold, who was signed to replace Smith in Seattle, led the Vikings to 14 regular season wins while setting multiple career highs including 4,319 yards passing and 35 TDs. Baker Mayfield, the No. 1 overall selection by the Browns in 2018, was cut by Carolina in 2022 before turning things around the past two seasons in Tampa. Mayfield, whom the Jets will face next season, set career highs last season with a 71.4 completion percentage, 4,500 yards passing, 41 TDs and a 106.8 passer rating.
"I think everybody's journey is different," Fields said when asked about the resurgences of Darnold and Mayfield. "Nobody's journey is the same. Those guys, it happened for them like you said on the third or fourth team. Of course, I'm definitely hoping for it to happen here in New York, but I mean, like I said, everybody's not the same, everybody's different. I think those guys kind of kept their head down. They didn't let too many things in the outside world shake them. They kept working and they flourished, of course, in Tampa Bay and in Minnesota."
Fields will be working closely with quarterbacks coach Charles London and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand as he looks to become the latest talented former draft pick to ascend to another level.
"I think my expectations for myself are higher than anybody else to be honest with you, so something to prove for myself and again," he said. "I think I've been improving each year I've been in the League, so I look to do the same this year. But like I said, I think my expectations for myself are higher than you guys, it's higher than all of the people in this building. I'm excited to get to work and get things going."
