Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields spoke to the media for the first time since signing a contract with Gang Green and expressed excitement about this next chapter of his career. Fields is expected to be the Jets’ starting QB under first-year head coach Aaron Glenn.
During a press conference on Wednesday, April 9, Justin Fields — the former 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft — spoke about being given the opportunity to not only prove something to his doubters, but to himself.
Fields was the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears during his first three seasons in the NFL before they traded him to the Pittsburgh Steelers prior to the start of the 2024 season, who ultimately benched him for the first time in his career across the pros, college, and high school.
The Jets, however, seem prepared to give Fields the keys to the starting quarterback job and therefore the franchise.
“Definitely something that I want to prove to myself. And I think my expectations for myself are higher than anybody else’s to be honest with you. So something to prove for myself,” Fields said while speaking to the media for the first time since joining the Jets.
“And again I think I’ve been improving each year I’ve been in the league. So I look to do the same this year, to be honest with you. But I think my expectations for myself are higher than you guys is higher than all other people in this building. So I’m excited to get to work and get things going.”
Fields also pointed to the recent career trajectories of quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold, who seemed to figure out their careers when on their third teams (although the Bucs are technically Mayfield’s fourth).
“I mean, I think I can for sure. But I think everybody’s journey is different. Nobody’s journey is the same. … It happened for them, like you said, on the third or fourth team. And of course, I’m definitely hoping for it to happen here in New York. But I mean everybody’s not the same. Everybody’s different. So I think those guys kind of kept their head down. They didn’t let too many things in the outside world shake them. They kept working. And they flourished in Tampa Bay and Minnesota.”
In six starts with the Steelers in 2024 before being benched for Russell Wilson, who is now with the New York Giants, Fields led the Steelers to a 4-2 record while completing 65.8% of his passes for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. He also carried the ball 62 times for 289 yards and five touchdowns.