Jets are trading QB Justin Fields to Chiefs

Antwan Staley, New York Daily News on Mar 16, 2026

Published in Football

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Justin Fields’ time with the Jets is over after just one season.

The 27-year-old quarterback has been traded to the Chiefs in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round pick, sources confirm.

NFL Network was the first to report that Fields was being shipped to Kansas City. Other teams were interested in acquiring Fields. But he preferred to be traded to the Chiefs, where he will back up Patrick Mahomes, who is rehabbing from a torn ACL late last season, according to ESPN.

To make the trade possible, the Jets will pay $7 million of Fields’ remaining $10 million guaranteed salary. The Chiefs are expected to pick up the rest.

A year ago, the Jets signed Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract, hoping he could revive his career after failed stints with the Bears and the Steelers.

But the signing was a complete bust after he was benched after nine starts, after struggling with downfield accuracy and holding onto the ball too long in the pocket.

Jets owner Woody Johnson even chastised Fields for his poor play after the team began the season 0-7.

“It’s hard when you have a quarterback with a rating that he’s got,” Johnson said. “I mean, he has the ability, but something just is not jiving.

“But if you look at any coach with a quarterback like that, you’re going to see similar results. You have to play consistently at that position, and that’s what we’re going to try to do for the remainder of the season.”

Fields responded to Johnson’s criticism by leading the Jets to their first victory of 2025 in a Week 8 victory against the Bengals. He completed 21-of-32 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown, but his play continued to decline. Fields was 2-7 as the Jets’ starting quarterback and had a QBR of 38.7, which ranked Fields 30th among the 34 qualifying starters.

Tyrod Taylor eventually replaced Fields following a November 13th loss to the Patriots. Fields didn’t start another game the rest of the season, even after Taylor suffered a groin injury in December.

Undrafted rookie free agent Brady Cook started the Jets final four games of their 3-14 season. Fields was expected to be released this offseason after the Jets acquired Geno Smith in a trade from the Raiders last week. The Jets also have Cook and Bailey Zappe on the roster as their backup quarterbacks.

Now, Fields will be the Chiefs’ emergency plan just in case Mahomes is not ready to start in Week 1.

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