“Just the winning, to be honest, finding ways to win. Just having that culture, similar to when I was in Pittsburgh, just that winning mindset. You can tell why that happens,” he said via Nate Taylor on X.

His most recent stint with the Jets clearly did not go as expected. A dip in his performance, combined with injuries, made his time in the Big Apple fall short of expectations.

Now, in Chiefs Kingdom, Justin Fields will look to rediscover his best form. Can he finally claim his first title since entering the NFL?

Justin Fields or Patrick Mahomes? Andy Reid’s final decision

Andy Reid faces a pivotal decision for Week 1 of the 2026 season as Patrick Mahomes continues his recovery from surgery on torn knee ligaments sustained late last year. While Mahomes has expressed a firm goal to start the season opener with “no restrictions” and is already participating in meetings and weight training, Reid has emphasized a strategy of extreme caution to avoid rushing his franchise star.

In the event that Mahomes is not 100%, the Chiefs have reinforced their quarterback room with Fields, who is expected to take the majority of first-team reps throughout the offseason programs. Ultimately, Reid’s choice will hinge on Mahomes’ progress during the final training phases in August, with Chris Oladokun and Fields standing by as the primary insurance policies to lead the offense until the MVP is fully cleared for contact.

Kansas City Chiefs’ opponents in 2026

Meanwhile, as the first moves begin to take shape in Chiefs Kingdom and with the upcoming NFL Draft approaching, these will be the opponents that Andy Reid’s team will face starting in Week 1:

“I mentioned at the owner meetings,” Reid reaffirmed to the press, “that we didn’t bring him to be a gadget guy — although he can do every gadget there is. We didn’t bring him in to do that.

“We brought it in [because] he’s a legitimate quarterback — a starting quarterback — in the National Football League, and we’re lucky enough to have him here. If that’s the role that he plays early in the season, we have full confidence that he can do a great job with that.”

Building confidence with Justin Fields

Although both Justin Fields and Andy Reid have been around the league for some time, this will be the first time the coach has him under his command. So far, everything is going as expected.

“I appreciate Justin and the way he’s gone about everything so far,” the coach remarked. “He’s been great with everything. I don’t know him as well as I will have known him once we get through a few weeks here, but I like from afar what I’ve seen. I like when I’ve met with him what I’ve seen.”

Who will start in Week 1 for the Chiefs?

Although Andy Reid recently stated that Patrick Mahomes is ‘doing great’, he remained cautious about his recovery and the possibility of him being the starter in Week 1 for the Kansas City Chiefs. In this scenario, the situation could open the door for Justin Fields to start the season with his new team if his teammate is not available.

The Chiefs are focused on the draft

Heading into the 2026 NFL Draft with two first-round picks at No. 9 and No. 29, the Kansas City Chiefs are focused on rebuilding a roster that saw significant turnover in the secondary and trenches. Andy Reid’s priority positions clearly center on protecting Patrick Mahomes, with the head coach reportedly “hell-bent” on upgrading the offensive line to ensure his star quarterback’s safety following his recent surgery.

Beyond the line, the team is looking to revitalize its defensive backfield after losing key starters like Trent McDuffie, while also hunting for a high-impact edge rusher to bolster the pass rush. Finally, adding a reliable, physical wide receiver remains a top objective to give the offense the explosive playmaking ability it lacked during the 2025 season.

• Round 1: Pick 9
• Round 1: Pick 29
• Round 2: Pick 40
• Round 3: Pick 74
• Round 4: Pick 109
• Round 5: Pick 148
• Round 5: Pick 169
• Round 5: Pick 176
• Round 6: Pick 210

Chiefs Kingdom wants to return to the spotlight

Last season left both fans and outsiders stunned. Serious injuries at key moments and a decline in the performance of their stars meant the Kansas City Chiefs failed to make the playoffs, something few were used to seeing.

Now Reid and company, with the hope of having a healthy Mahomes and the confirmed return of Travis Kelce, will once again try to reach the Super Bowl and, why not, dream of winning another ring.

“… We look forward to getting him in there, but most of all, because he’s a good player. And if Pat can’t [play] for whatever reason, now you’ve got a legitimate guy in there that can play and win games for you,” Reid said to The Athletic’s Jesse Newell.

Fields has been the starter on each of his last three teams, and if he does so with the Chiefs, he would set a record. The truth is that for Reid, this is a relief when it comes to choosing the QB1 for the start of the 2026 NFL season.

“I like his game,” Reid also added. “He can do the drop back game. He can do the movement stuff, play-action, whether it’s a naked or sprint-out game. He has that whole package that he can do. He understands the screen game and how to set it up. He obviously is going to be one of the better athletes on the field when he’s out there.”

How is Mahomes coming into the season opener?

Patrick Mahomes is currently recovering from surgery to repair a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee, an injury sustained in late 2025. While he has already resumed throwing and remains optimistic about a Week 1 return for the Kansas City Chiefs, his availability is still uncertain.

Justin Fields’ 2025 numbers

During the 2025 season with the New York Jets, Justin Fields started 9 games, leading the team to a 2–7 record before being sidelined by a knee injury. He completed 62.7% of his passes for 1,259 yards, recording 7 touchdowns and only 1 interception, while also adding 383 rushing yards and 4 scores on the ground.

Despite his efficiency in protecting the ball, Fields struggled with consistency and was sacked 27 times before eventually being placed on injured reserve in December.

Looking ahead to the next draft

While there is still plenty of time to know whether Patrick Mahomes or Justin Fields will start the season, the truth is that in the Chiefs Kingdom there is a short-term commitment keeping everyone on edge: the draft. These are the Chiefs’ draft picks in 2026:

• Round 1, Pick 9
• Round 1, Pick 29
• Round 2, Pick 40
• Round 3, Pick 74
• Round 4, Pick 109
• Round 5, Pick 148
• Round 5, Pick 169
• Round 5, Pick 176
• Round 6, Pick 210

“That was a situation that just didn’t work out. I can’t sit here and say, ‘I regret it’, because I think Justin is a really good player. I put the fault on me. I didn’t do enough to put him in a position to be successful.”

Glenn also expressed confidence that Justin Fields will thrive in Kansas City under Andy Reid. “I think he is going to do well in Kansas City. I really do. He is a good person and he is a good player. I think Andy Reid is going to do a good job with him.”

Why did Justin Fields leave Jets?

Justin Fields’ departure ultimately stemmed from a lack of fit within the Jets’ offensive approach and a very disappointing 2025 season. The coaching staff struggled to build a system tailored to his strengths, and inconsistent results pushed the organization to explore alternatives. Once Kansas City expressed interest, the Jets moved on while also shedding part of Fields’ salary, signaling a clear reset at the position.

Who will Jets pick in 2026 Draft?

With Justin Fields no longer on the roster, the Jets could target a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Ty Simpson has emerged as a potential option. The prospect is viewed as a polished passer after his college career at Alabama. That would be another attempt by the Jets to find a franchise QB.

Rich Cimini of ESPN stated that a Week 1 start by Justin Fields for the Chiefs would make him the first quarterback in NFL history to open the season as the starting signal-caller for four different teams in four consecutive years.

In 2023, Fields started for the Bears, in 2024, he did it for the Steelers, while in 2025, Fields repped the Jets. Now, he could do it for the Chiefs. Seven quarterbacks have done it for three teams since 1950, including Fields, of course.

There’s a bad side of the story for Fields

Fields might do NFL history, but it’s not great NFL history. The thing is that Fields starts the seasons as QB1, but rarely ends them. For instance, he played 13 games for the Bears in the 2023 season, with Tyson Bagent starting four times. However, that was due to Fields suffering injuries.

However, in 2024, he started for the Steelers but then was benched for Russell Wilson. In 2025, he lost the job to Tyrod Taylor. Hence, not only is he ending up losing his spot, but also to lackluster names. Now, at least it will be Mahomes when he is back healthy.

Fields is a very different QB compared to Mahomes

Despite the clear differences in accomplishments and rankings, Fields and Mahomes are very different quarterbacks stylistically. While Mahomes can scramble and run, his biggest weapon is his huge-yet-accurate arm.

For Fields, he is a runner. He can’t instill fear in the NFL with his arm, he lacks the accuracy, but if he sees open space, he can explode and harm you massively with his feet. Hence, it will be interesting to see how much Andy Reid changes the playbook if Fields gets the start.

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.

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.

According to journalist Adam Schefter, who reported the trade via his X account, the franchise’s plan is to give Fields ample reps during the offseason and training camp, so he could potentially start if Mahomes isn’t 100% recovered.

The former New York Jets quarterback reportedly had several offers to leave the Big Apple, but ultimately chose to join the Chiefs’ QB depth chart, with his physical still pending. Major acquisition for Andy Reid ahead of what’s coming.

What injury did Mahomes suffer?

Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee during the Week 15 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers on December 14, 2025. The injury occurred late in the fourth quarter while he was scrambling, ultimately ending his season and requiring surgery the following day.

At that time, Gardner Minshew stepped in as his replacement, but he left for the Arizona Cardinals in free agency. Therefore, the Chiefs’ QB depth chart now includes not only Mahomes and Fields, but also Chris Oladokun and Jake Haener.

Fields’ 2025 performance

During the 2025 season with the Jets, Justin Fields appeared in 9 games, completing 128 of 204 passes for 1,259 yards, 7 touchdowns, and just 1 interception, finishing with an 89.5 passer rating.

On the ground, he added 383 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns on 71 carries, a sign that Fields could help the Chiefs improve their running game. Despite his efficiency in limiting turnovers, the team struggled with a 2-7 record in his starts before he was sidelined by a knee injury in late December.

A fragile comeback

Recovery from a combined ACL and LCL tear typically requires 9 to 12 months of intensive rehabilitation. Given the severity of Mahomes’ injury, he is expected to be cleared for full football activities by the start of the 2026 Chiefs regular season in September.

The fact is that the Chiefs need to be better running. Last season, they ranked 20th in the league in rushing offense. In fact, Mahomes‘ injury came by him trying to force plays with his scrambling, because they couldn’t trust the running game.

Hence, they add Justin Fields, who might not be the prospect everyone thought he would at one point, but he is definitely a dual-threat quarterback, who is arguably more dangerous with his feet than with his throwing of the football.

Fields is a dangerous runner

Back in 2021, Justin Fields ran a 4.44-second 40-yard dash. In fact, in the NFL, his highlight reel is likely to feature his runs more than his passes. He is fast, elusive, and quite strong to swallow contact.

With Fields on the roster, the Chiefs could make designed runs, exploit RPOs (run-pass options), and add more speed from the backfield to a unit that desperately needs it. However, this will last only while Mahomes recovers. Once he is healthy, Fields is likely to not step out of the sideline.

The Chiefs have made the running game a priority this offseason

Not only Fields, but by signing Kenneth Walker III, the Chiefs have made it clear that improving the running game is a key piece of their comeback season. After all, Patrick Mahomes has never had a 1,000-yard back so far in his career. In fact, it’s not even been close.

With a more veteran Mahomes and after a knee surgery, the Chiefs would likely not want to see Mahomes run as much. Still, much of Mahomes’ danger comes from his scrambles, so it remains to be seen how much his style will change once he comes back.

Coming off a disappointing campaign with the Las Vegas Raiders, Smith is back in New York—actually, New Jersey—where he started his NFL journey back in 2013. Though excited to have him back in town, the Jets know Smith’s game brings inconsistency with it, and thus acquiring Wentz could help give the team a cushion in case all else fails.

Still, Wentz only appeared in five games in 2025, in which he didn’t exactly play lights-out. Needless to say, a quarterback tandem of Smith and Wentz would mean New York remains filled with uncertainty in 2026. The 2026 NFL Draft has yet to take place, but it’s no wonder why “J-E-T-S” fans are already eyeing the 2027 class, which could have Arch Manning leading the way.

Justin Fields could leave NY Jets

“Justin Fields remains under contract, but that likely will change,” as reported by Rich Cimini of ESPN. Following a scarily inconsistent performance in 2025, the former 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft is trending to search for a new home. It would be the fourth time the quarterback hits the real estate business in his six-year career.

Fields signed a two-year, $40 million deal with the Jets, via Spotrac, which runs through the 2026 NFL season. However, New York may not sit around waiting for his deal to expire. Instead, Jets general manager Darren Mougey may take action into his own hands.

Jets face options when it comes to Fields

If Fields won’t be taken into account by New York, it better figure out a way to escape the quarterback’s $23 million cap hit in 2026. In order to do so, the Jets have different options at their disposal. Most likely, any decision will have to wait until June 1st, when the NFL’s new league year begins.

If the Jets release Fields prior to that date, they would take on $22 million on dead cap. A pre 6/1 trade would save New York $11 million, but it would still take on $12 million in dead cap in 2026. Moreover, finding a suitable trade partner for Fields might be unlikely.

Better options for the Jets and Fields

Thus, the more likely options for the Jets are as follows. On the first hand, they could designate Fields as a June 1st release—or simply release him after that date—which would take on a $13 million dead cap for 2026 and a $9 million hit for 2027. It’s a higher price to pay than a trade, but it’s a far easier decision to pull off.

If the Jets trade Fields after June 1st, then it’d be the best solution. New York would save $20 million as it’d take on $3 million in 2026 and $9 million in 2027 in dead cap. Knowing how much money a trade would save the Jets means any team willing to do business with them will likely lowball them, though.

In fact, the future of the former Bears and Steelers quarterback in the Big Apple remains unknown. Rumors of a potential release are strong, though it’s unclear exactly when such a move might take place.

“As for Justin Fields: He’ll be released at some point, though the Jets say they are in no rush to make that move. Tyrod Taylor is open to returning if the Jets want him as a veteran backup again,” Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic revealed.

Fields’ contract situation

As of early 2026, Justin Fields remains under contract with the Jets after signing a two-year, $40 million deal last offseason. While he is set to earn a base salary of $20 million this year with $10 million already guaranteed, his future with the team is uncertain following a difficult 2025 season.

General Manager Darren Mougey recently stated at the NFL Combine that while Fields is currently on the roster, the team is evaluating all options, including a potential trade or release, as they look to overhaul their quarterback room.

“We’re having discussions about the quarterback position every day,” Mougey said via the Jets’ official website. “I was actually talking to Frank this morning, and it’s myself, AG, Frank, [QB coach] Billy [Musgrave], and just discussions about all the different options and the opportunities we may or may not have. But for the time being, Justin’s in all of those conversations. So, we’ll see where that goes as we go through the process.”

Fields faced heavy criticism throughout much of the season, to the point that the coaching staff opted to lean on the experience of Tyrod Taylor down the stretch of the regular season, despite the former Bears and Steelers quarterback being healthy again after his knee injury.

When asked whether he would like to return to the field, his answer was an unequivocal yes. Still, he made it clear that he doesn’t know what will happen with his future once his time with New York comes to an end this season.

“I mean, I don’t know what I’m going to eat for dinner tonight, so I can’t even worry about what’s going to happen until after the season,” Fields said, via Dennis Waszak of the Associated Press. “We’ll just see and take it day by day.”

Justin Fields’ numbers this season in New York

In his first season with the New York Jets, Justin Fields has provided a steady presence under center, recording 1,259 passing yards, 7 touchdowns, and only 1 interception.

While his 37.7 QBR reflects the team’s struggles in a highly competitive division, his ability to protect the football and contribute on the ground has been a key component of the Jets’ offensive strategy in 2025.

What is Fields’ contract situation?

Justin Fields’ contractual situation with the New York Jets has become a complex dilemma for the front office heading into 2026. Having signed a two-year deal before this season, Fields is still owed $10 million in guaranteed salary, yet his performance makes it difficult to envision him returning to a starting role.

Furthermore, moving on from him presents a significant financial burden, as cutting him without a post-June 1 designation would leave the team with $22 million in dead money.

Consequently, the Jets must carefully weigh all options, from a potential trade to a post-June 1 release, as they navigate their quarterback strategy for the upcoming season.