Nate Taylor and Rich CiminiCloseRich CiminiESPN Staff WriterRich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University.Follow on XMultiple AuthorsMar 16, 2026, 11:07 AM ET
McAfee: Andy Reid can get the most out of Justin Fields (1:47)Pat McAfee is a fan of the Chiefs’ trade for QB Justin Fields. (1:47)
Fields, 27, wanted to continue his career in Kansas City, although other teams were interested in acquiring him, the sources told Schefter, after the Jets last week acquired quarterback Geno Smith in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders to be their new starter in 2026.
To facilitate the trade, the Jets are paying $7 million of Fields’ $10 million 2026 guaranteed salary, a source told ESPN. Kansas City will pay the remaining $3 million, much like the Jets did when they traded last week for Smith. As part of that trade, the Jets will pay Smith $3.3 million while the Raiders are paying him $16.2 million.
Before the trade, one of the biggest holes in the Chiefs’ roster was at backup quarterback. Without an experienced veteran after Gardner Minshew signed with the Arizona Cardinals last week, the other quarterbacks on the depth chart are Chris Oladokun and Jake Haener, who combined have started just three games.
“It’s not going to be a pleasant thing. Every day, you’ve got to fight through it, and you’ve got to attack the challenge of the workout and rehab. He’s doing a great job with that.”
Deemed expendable after the addition of Smith, Fields’ departure from the Jets was long anticipated. He struggled in his lone season with the Jets and was benched Nov. 17. He never saw the field again, finishing the year on injured reserve with a knee ailment that flared up after his demotion, ending another disastrous chapter in the Jets’ long, winding search for a winning quarterback.
Last year, the Jets signed Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract, including $30 million guaranteed, in free agency, betting that he’d be able to overcome a career of inconsistent passing. It was the signature acquisition in Year 1of the era with coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey.
Before Fields’ contract was restructured, the Jets were on the hook for $10 million in cash salary, the remaining portion of his guarantee. Behind Smith, they also have quarterbacks Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe on the roster.
Fields went 2-7 as the starter, ranking 31st out of 36 passers in Total QBR (37.3), based on a minimum of 200 attempts. He finished with seven touchdown passes, one interception and 1,259 passing yards, including only 505 yards in his last five starts.
His days appeared numbered in October, when owner Woody Johnson blamed the team’s 0-7 start on Fields.
“It’s hard when you have a quarterback with a rating that he’s got,” Johnson said. “I mean, he has ability, but something just is not jiving. … If we can just complete a pass, it would look good.”
Fields shrugged off the criticism, saying he didn’t pay it any attention. That happened in Week 8, when he was on the verge of being benched. As it turned out, Glenn had to stay with Fields because backup Tyrod Taylor had a knee injury that flared up later that week.
Fields responded with his best game of the season, throwing for 244 yards in a comeback win over the Cincinnati Bengals. But it was downhill from there.
A 2021 first-round pick by the Chicago Bears, Fields is 16-37 as a starting quarterback. The Chiefs will be Fields’ fourth team in four seasons.
McAfee: Andy Reid can get the most out of Justin Fields (1:47)Pat McAfee is a fan of the Chiefs’ trade for QB Justin Fields. (1:47)
Nate Taylor and Rich CiminiCloseRich CiminiESPN Staff WriterRich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University.Follow on XMultiple Authors
CloseRich CiminiESPN Staff WriterRich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University.Follow on X
Pat McAfee is a fan of the Chiefs’ trade for QB Justin Fields. (1:47)