Jets name Fields QB1: ‘We believe in Justin’

There will be no debate in the New York Jets' quarterback room entering the 2025 season: The newly signed Justin Fields is their expected starter.

"We believe Justin is the starter," new Jets general manager Darren Mougey told reporters at the annual league meetings on Sunday. "We believe in Justin. We believe we can win with Justin, so we're excited about Justin."

In moving on from Aaron Rodgers, the Jets signed Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract with $30 million guaranteed after he spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Chicago Bears (2021-23) and Pittsburgh Steelers (2024).

Though this will be Fields' third attempt to establish himself as a franchise quarterback, Mougey projects a specific path for the 26-year-old, citing recent turnarounds by Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold elsewhere in the league.

"We have seen some of that as of late and it did (play a factor) as we went through the process, and we think we could have the same" with Fields, Mougey said.

Fields showed flashes for the Steelers when he began the season as their starter while Russell Wilson rehabbed a calf injury. He went 4-2 in six starts and finished the season with 1,106 passing yards, five touchdowns and just one interception along with 289 rushing yards and five rushing TDs in 10 games.

"You saw it last year," Mougey said. "He was 4-2 as the starter and probably had some of the best quarterback play of his career. We're going to do everything to support him when he gets here."

Overall, Fields has a 14-30 record as a starter.

The Jets' other options on the roster were journeyman Tyrod Taylor, 2024 fifth-round draft pick Jordan Travis and Adrian Martinez.

Mougey was hired this offseason to replace Joe Douglas, while head coach Aaron Glenn was tapped to take over for Robert Saleh. Both Saleh and Douglas were fired during a dreadful 5-12 season that saw the Jets and Rodgers fall flat despite playoff aspirations.

--Field Level Media