The Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Jets are reportedly finalizing a deal that will send Justin Fields to Arrowhead, where he’d serve as Patrick Mahomes‘ backup in 2026. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network and Adam Schefter of ESPN reported it on X.
With Fields moving to Kansas City, the Chiefs‘ quarterback depth chart for 2026 will be as follows:
- Patrick Mahomes
- Justin Fields
- Chris Oladokun
- Jake Haener
The NY Jets, on the other hand, will enter the 2026 NFL season with Geno Smith as their starting quarterback, having completed a reunion with the veteran QB this offseason. Here’s the Jets‘ QB depth chart this year:
- Geno Smith
- Brady Cook
- Bailey Zappe
Mahomes’ injury could see Fields start for Chiefs in 2026
Even though the Chiefs’ starting QB job has a clear owner in Mahomes, his torn ACL creates a gap for the offseason activities and training camp. With the Fields trade, many are wondering whether Mahomes will recover in time for Week 1.
Even though head coach Andy Reid showed confidence in Mahomes’ progress, the Chiefs can already breathe a sigh of relief with Fields available if needed. Not only does trading for Fields could help the Chiefs improve their running game, but they’re also getting much-needed insurance behind Mahomes.
Fields’ NFL experience before trade to Chiefs
Fields, 27, boasts significant experience with 9,039 passing yards for 52 touchdowns and 32 interceptions in 53 NFL starts. His 16-37 record doesn’t look great, though to be fair, he hasn’t always been put in the best situations.
He started with a rebuilding Chicago Bears team that went 10-28 in three years with him at the helm, but Fields made a great impression in a short sample with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024, going 4-2 before Mike Tomlin gave the job to Russell Wilson once he recovered from injury.
Fields hoped to revitalize his career with a move to New York in 2025, but the Jets left a lot to be desired with a 2-7 record with him under center. Now it’s time for a fresh start in Kansas City, where Fields could get playing time depending on Mahomes‘ recovery.
Jets give up on Fields, go back to Geno Smith
The Jets, meanwhile, are turning the page as nothing went to plan with Fields. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports that New York is eating $7 million of Fields’ $10 million salary in 2026 to make the trade possible.
The team prefers to see what Geno Smith can do rather than giving Fields a second chance — even if Smith struggled with the Las Vegas Raiders, going 2-13 for 3,025 yards with 19 touchdowns and a league-worst 17 interceptions last year.
The Raiders secured the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft with a 3-14 record, paving the way for them to select Fernando Mendoza, who led Indiana to the National Championship win in the 2025 college football season.
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Smith is now reuniting with the team where he spent his first four NFL seasons, leading the Jets to a 12-18 record with 5,962 yards in 28 touchdowns and 36 interceptions in 30 starts from 2013 to 2016.
