If quarterback Justin Fields held a grudge toward the Pittsburgh Steelers, that would be understandable.
Fields (who has since signed a two-year, $40M deal with the New York Jets) went 4-2 in six starts with the Steelers in 2024 before Russell Wilson recovered from a calf injury and assumed the starting role. Wilson (now with the New York Giants) went 6-5 in 11 regular-season starts and lost to the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC wild-card round.
In his first news conference with the Jets, Fields didn’t bash his former team but indicated not getting another shot bothered him.
“It was different for me and a space I wasn’t really comfortable,” Fields said Wednesday. “But [Steelers head coach Mike] 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 said the decision didn’t convince him to sign with the Jets in free agency, and he’s focused on proving he can be a successful starting QB in the NFL.
“Definitely something that I want to prove to myself,” Fields said. “And I think expectations for myself are higher than anybody else’s, to be honest with you. So something to prove for myself.”
Fields’ career has been turbulent thus far. Since the Chicago Bears selected him with pick No. 11 in the 2021 NFL Draft, he has tossed 45 touchdown passes but has a 14-30 starting record in the regular season.
In 10 regular-season games with Pittsburgh last season, the 26-year-old had 10 touchdowns (five passing and five rushing) but threw for more than 300 passing yards only once.
Whether he can reach his potential with the Jets remains unclear. Fields is reuniting with star New York wide receiver Garrett Wilson, whom he played with at Ohio State from 2019-20. However, the Jets haven’t made the playoffs since 2010, and they have a rookie head coach, Aaron Glenn.
Still, Fields salvaging his career would make the Steelers wonder if they should’ve done more to retain him, especially if they don’t sign QB Aaron Rodgers and are forced to start Mason Rudolph in Week 1.
