The Jets have officially announced the signing of quarterback.
Fields, 26, entered free agency on Monday and quickly reached an agreement with the Green & White. Last season with the Steelers, Fields (6-3, 227) started six games, posting a 4-2 record while accounting for 10 total touchdowns (five passing, five rushing) and only two turnovers. He set career bests with a 66% completion rate and a 93.9 passer rating.
At the NFL Combine, Jets GM Darren Mougey stated they would “exhaust all options” at quarterback, and once the legal tampering period opened Monday, Fields became their primary target.
Originally drafted 11th overall by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Fields played 40 games (38 starts) across three seasons in Chicago. He completed 60.3% of his passes there, throwing for 6,674 yards, 40 touchdowns, and 30 interceptions. Known for his mobility, he averaged 740 rushing yards per season and scored 14 rushing touchdowns. In 2022, he ran for 1,143 yards, the second-most in a single season by a quarterback in NFL history. His 2,562 passing yards in 2023 were his best yet.
A true dual-threat quarterback, Fields ranks third in rushing touchdowns (19) and fourth in rushing yards (2,509) among QBs since entering the league. Over 50 career games, he’s completed 61.1% of his throws for 7,780 passing yards and 64 total touchdowns, averaging 155.6 passing yards and 50.2 rushing yards per game.
Fields, who became the third Ohio State quarterback selected in the first round during the common draft era, now reunites with Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson. The two were teammates at Ohio State in 2019 and 2020, when Fields led the Buckeyes to a 20-2 record, throwing for 5,373 yards and 63 touchdowns while adding 867 rushing yards and 15 scores on the ground.
With Fields joining the roster, the Jets now have veteran Tyrod Taylor along with young quarterbacks Jordan Travis and Adrian Martinez. The team holds the No. 7 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft, as well as three picks in the top 73 and eight selections total.
