Jets agree to trade quarterback
Justin Fields to Chiefs to serve as Mahomes' backup, AP source says
[March 17, 2026]
By DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Jets have agreed to a trade that will
send quarterback Justin Fields to the Kansas City Chiefs, a person
familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Monday.
The Jets will receive a sixth-round draft pick in 2027 for Fields
and pick up $7 million of his guaranteed $10 million salary for this
upcoming season, the person told the AP on condition of anonymity
because the teams didn’t announce the trade.
The deal, first reported by ESPN, is pending a physical.
The 27-year-old Fields signed a two-year, $40 million deal — with
$30 million guaranteed — with New York last March and was the
starter for most of the season until he was benched in favor of
Tyrod Taylor in Week 12 in November. He didn’t play another game for
the Jets, ending the season by being placed on injured reserve in
late December with a knee injury.
Fields went 2-7 as the Jets’ starter with seven touchdowns and only
one interception for 1,259 yards. He threw for fewer than 55 yards
in four games, including a season-low 27 in a loss to Buffalo in
Week 2.
The Chiefs were searching for a veteran backup quarterback capable
of filling in if two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes, who is rehabbing
after tearing knee ligaments late in the season, is not ready for
the start of the season.
With the Jets’ trade for Geno Smith last week, it appeared Fields’
days with the team were numbered, whether by being released or
traded. New York held onto Fields through the start of free agency
and general manager Darren Mougey found a taker in Kansas City.
Fields was the No. 11 overall pick by Chicago in the 2021 draft and
the Bears moved on after three seasons and traded him to Pittsburgh
in 2024. With Russell Wilson dealing with a calf injury, Fields
opened the season as the Steelers’ starter and had five touchdown
passes and five TD runs with just one interception while leading the
Steelers to a 4-2 start.
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New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields warms up before an NFL
football game against the New Orleans Saints on Dec. 21, 2025, in
New Orleans. (AP Photo/Ella Hall, File)
But with Wilson healthy again, Pittsburgh turned
back to the veteran and Fields was sent to the bench.
After he was signed by the Jets last offseason to
replace the released Aaron Rodgers, Fields insisted he was confident
he could be a productive NFL starter. But it didn’t happen in New
York.
After the Jets started 0-7 during what would be a 3-14 first season
under Aaron Glenn, owner Woody Johnson blamed poor quarterback play
by Fields as a primary reason for the team’s struggles.
“The defense is pretty good. If we can just complete a pass, it
would look good,” Johnson said at the NFL’s fall owners meetings
last October. “We’ve got to complete some passes. You’ve got to
convince them that you can do something. Otherwise it’s hard to have
a game that you can win.”
For his career, Fields is 16-37 as a starter and has thrown for
9,039 yards and 52 touchdowns with 32 interceptions. He has also run
for 2,892 yards and 23 scores.
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AP Sports Writer Dave Skretta contributed to this report.
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