Depending on who you ask, there are many reasons why Justin Fields has yet to find his footing in the NFL after four seasons with the Chicago Bears and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Now, with the New York Jets, Fields knows he’s running out of chances to be a quality starting quarterback. And he’s just appreciative for a fresh start with a team desperate to build a winner.
Speaking for the first time since signing a two-year deal worth $40 million in the offseason, Fields made it clear that he isn’t worried about anything that happened before.
Justin Fields Moves On From Uncomfortable Benching
Six weeks into the 2024 season, Fields was the starting quarterback for Pittsburgh and had them out to a 4-2 record. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, wanting improved offensive efficiency, chose to bench Fields for Russell Wilson.
While Wilson led the Steelers to two more points per game than Fields, Pittsburgh’s offensive struggles never really changed throughout the season.
Even though a large group of fans pushed for Fields to keep the job in Pittsburgh, the newest member of the Jets isn’t really concerned about what happened last year. He’s just focused on improving every day with his new team.
“It was different for me and a space I wasn’t really comfortable,” Fields said. “But Coach Tomlin made a decision he thought was best for the team. I’m never going to go against that. I just tried to change my perspective and get better in practice.”
Fields has been a consummate professional over the course of his four-year career with the Steelers and Bears, even if he’s been placed in offenses that don’t really fit what his skill set brings at the NFL level.
“I did what I was asked to do,” Fields said. “I’ve never had a problem with that. I’ve always been a team player. I’m not going to get too much in depth into what happened in Chicago or Pittsburgh but I’m grateful for all the experiences I had.”
New York believes they can provide an offensive system that actually allows Fields to excel.
And just because the Steelers opted to bench the Ohio State product for a veteran signal-caller, it doesn’t mean they were right to make that call. If the Jets can make him a quality starter, it could fundamentally change life for the franchise and Fields.
