Justin Fields is no longer with the Pittsburgh Steelers—a move that surprised some but was widely expected. Competing with Russell Wilson was never an issue he would have faced with the New York Jets.
According to a report from Jeremy Fowler, the Steelers made a last-ditch effort to keep Fields in free agency. The report suggests Pittsburgh offered him a better contract than the $40 million deal he ultimately signed with the Jets.
Fowler also noted that Fields took time to carefully consider his options before choosing New York, largely to avoid being a backup. “Something went off where he chose the Jets, and he must’ve felt the love more from the Jets than he did the Steelers, who essentially benched him last year for Russell Wilson.”
During the 2024 season, Fields spent most of his time on the sidelines behind Wilson. As a backup quarterback, he saw little playing time and was limited to learning from the sidelines, while the veteran quarterback and Super Bowl champion had full control of the offense.
Fields will have a significant salary increase
Whether or not the Steelers offered Justin Fields a better contract, the truth is that he now has an impressive deal with the Jets: $8 million for the first season and $23 million for the second year. This represents the bulk of his guaranteed contract.
Before this deal, his average salary was $4 million, meaning he will now earn double. He is likely to become the starting quarterback for a team eager to turn things around and willing to put their trust in a talent like Fields.