Jets' Justin Fields is confident he can be the next QB that experiences a career resurgence

Antwan Staley, New York Daily News on May 29, 2025

Published in Football

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NEW YORK — In recent years, several quarterbacks, including Baker Mayfield, Geno Smith and Sam Darnold, have experienced a resurgence later in their careers.

What gives Justin Fields the confidence that he can follow that trend with the Jets?

“Just confidence in myself,” Fields said after practice on Thursday. “At the end of the day, it’s really not up to the scheme. Of course, [opponents] are going to do their best to scheme it up.

“Coaches aren’t gonna call perfect plays every play, so they always say it is up to the players to make plays when we need them the most. It is not necessarily in the scheme or anything like that, but when it’s time to make those plays in the game, when it’s time to make something happen, that’s what I’m going to do and that’s what the guys around me are going to do as well.”

The Jets signed Fields, 26, to a two-year, $40 million contract in March, hoping he can revitalize his career. During his three seasons with the Bears after he was selected 11th overall in the 2021 NFL draft, Fields threw for 6,674 yards, 40 touchdowns, and 30 interceptions. He also won only 10 of his 38 starts with the Bears and completed 60.3% of his passes, which is well below the league average over the last 10 seasons (64.1%).

Throughout his career, Fields’ superpower is his dual-threat ability. He has rushed for 2,509 yards and 19 touchdowns in four seasons.

After Chicago drafted Caleb Williams in 2024, Fields was traded to the Steelers to provide insurance behind then-starter Russell Wilson. But after Wilson suffered a preseason calf injury, Fields started the first six games and won four of those. He also registered a career high in completion percentage (65.8%) with five touchdowns and one interception in limited duty under center.

Those six starts in Pittsburgh were enough for the Jets’ coaching staff to believe that Fields was good enough to become their starting quarterback and that he has untapped potential that hasn’t been fully reached.

The Jets obviously want to utilize Fields’ skills as a dynamic runner and they don’t want to take that away from him. However, they also believe Fields’ big arm and football IQ can be successful in the Jets’ offensive coordinator, Tanner Engstrand’s, system.

“It is just growth,” Engstrand said about Fields. “Just going through his career, just continuing to stack experience along with it and ultimately ends up winning four games out of six. You just see some of the things that are starting to develop in his game and then you look at that and you go, ‘That’s pretty good, we can do some things with that.’

“I think that’s kind of where it started. Then, of course, all the other things that are being talked about are real. Those things are real and we’re excited to get going with him.”

In Week 1, Fields will face his former team, the Steelers, and potentially former Jet Aaron Rodgers, who many expect to be Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback next season. But Fields is treating it like just another game.

“That’s who we play Week 1,” Fields said. “There really wasn’t a thought to that.

During OTA practices, Fields has been rekindling his chemistry and his relationship with Garrett Wilson. The two played at Ohio State together for two seasons (2019-20). During that span, the Buckeyes were 20-2 and made an appearance in the 2020 National Championship before losing to Alabama.

After Fields and Wilson entered the league, they communicated occasionally. But now the duo has been practicing like they’ve been playing together for years.

During 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills on Thursday, Fields completed six passes to Wilson, which was the most by any other player.

“He has been my guy for a long time now, so I really feel like we haven’t skipped a beat out on the practice field,” Fields said about Wilson. “It has been great so far being with him.

“When I came here, we really didn’t miss a day. He’s been great, he’s been proactive in everything that he does working hard.”

In addition to adding Fields, the Jets offense has undergone significant cosmetic changes from last season. Gone are veterans Rodgers, wide receiver Davante Adams, tight end Tyler Conklin, and right tackle Morgan Moses.

In their place, the Jets signed wide receivers Josh Reynolds and Tyler Johnson and drafted right tackle Armand Membou and tight end Mason Taylor. Despite the turnover on the coaching staff and the roster, Fields has high hopes for the Jets’ offense this upcoming season.

“I think sky’s the limit for this team, for this offense,” Fields said. “But we have a long way to go.

“Offense and defense are new, so guys are really tuned in and locked in and trying to get everything down. But I think once we, the sky’s the limit. We have all the guys that we need, we have all the talent, so it’s really gonna come down to the discipline, the execution when the games come.”