On Monday, the New York Jets traded quarterback Justin Fields to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a 2027 sixth round pick, a move that finally granted him what he’s deserved.
A chance to develop in the right system and, most importantly, a chance at having a Baker Mayfield-Sam Darnold moment of redemption.
The Jets are trading QB Justin Fields to the Chiefs for a 2027 sixth round pick.
— First and Pen (@firstandpen) March 16, 2026
This is great for Fields, who will finally have the chance to develop under a talented group including Patrick Mahomes, Eric Bieniemy and Andy Reid.🏈👏🏾 pic.twitter.com/ZNSJhnWqaj
Since being drafted as the 11th overall pick by the Bears in the 2021 NFL Draft, Fields has been both horribly underdeveloped and misused.
In Chicago, he was running for his life thanks to a horrendous offensive line and poor coaching. And just when he seemed to find a groove with newly acquired DJ Moore, he suffered a hand injury that impeded his success.
In 2024, he was traded to Pittsburgh, where it seemed that he had found a fresh start.
He led the team to a 4-2 record and the offense looked like something Steelers fans hadn’t seen in years. Fields threw for 1,106 yards with 5 TDs and 1 INT while completing a career-best 65.8% of his passes. He also added 289 yards rushing and 5 TDs and gave the Steelers a true red zone threat.
Then Russell Wilson got healthy, was inserted into the starting lineup and went 6-1 before losing the last 5 games.
And during that losing streak, Fields was frustratingly relegated to the bench, his talents squandered once again.
Then he signed a two-year, $40 million deal with the Jets.
Things got off to a promising start, but then Garrett Wilson got hurt and Fields, once again, had no one to throw to. Yet he never gave up and in Week 8, he led the Jets to a stunning upset of the Bengals in Cincinnati, a game in which the Jets scored 23 points in the 4Q to come from behind and shock the Bengals.
Fields led the team to two of its three total wins, but in the end, it was the same old story as the Jets moved on and Fields was banished to the purgatory of the sidelines once again.
Now Fields, still a young 27 years-old, heads to the Chiefs, where he has the chance to learn under one of the most experienced and talented offensive trios in the league- Patrick Mahomes, head coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
In that system, Fields has the chance to develop his game and prove that the Bears, Steelers and Jets were wrong about him.
I think he can do it.
