Winning over a locker room is never easy in the NFL, especially when joining a new team. For New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields, who is the assumed team leader (courtesy of the built-in responsibility his position demands), he does so as soon as possible.
After signing a two-year, $40 million deal with the Jets in the offseason, Fields instantly took over the organization’s starting quarterback job. Not only is the Ohio State product the “new guy” around these parts, but considering how disappointing the Aaron Rodgers-led seasons were for fans, he takes over the leadership role in a unique timeline.
The first step for any young quarterback on a new team and system is to get to know the players he will be leading, and he is already cooking up ideas as OTAs continue.
Justin Fields’ golf plans for teammates
Fields told reporters at practice last week about his plans to get to know some of his new teammates.
“Yeah, so it’s been raining a lot here lately, and some O-lineman, tight ends, they love golf,” Fields stated. “I think there’s a spot right up the street. I forgot what it’s called, but we went over there, got on the golf simulator, golfed a little bit. … Guys are just trying to spend time outside of the building, and it’s not really only with the offensive guys, too.
“I’ve been outside the building with Wood (Jamien Sherwood), just kind of hanging out with them, and some different guys from the defensive side of the ball, too.”
New York has at least helped him in that process by bringing in familiar talents. The team signed center Josh Myers in free agency, who served as Fields’s college center. Plus, a couple of Buckeye weapons, wide receiver Garrett Wilson and tight end Jeremy Ruckert, were already on the roster.
All of these players worked with Fields at Ohio State. They all understand his tendencies as a leader and the importance of what Fields is doing to get to know his new teammates.
“I think that camaraderie, that closeness that we’re trying to get to as a team … all of that just makes us play for each other more, get to know each other better, and really just learn about each other’s background,” Fields explained. “It’s really just things you can’t measure on the football field, but I think the closer our team is, the better we’ll be.”
New York’s new quarterback still has plenty of things to prove on the field. He is entering his third season with a different team after the Chicago Bears took him in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft.
It’s up to him to prove that on the field as well.
The on-field work doesn’t come before team bonding, though. As Fields continues to win over his new teammates, he continues to show the kind of leadership that is usually provided by franchise quarterbacks.
