.jpg) Fields with theChicago Bears in 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||
| No. 7 –New York Jets | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||
| Born: | (1999-03-05)March 5, 1999 (age 26) Kennesaw, Georgia, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 227 lb (103 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||
| High school: | Harrison (Kennesaw, GA) | ||||||||||||||||||
| College: | Georgia (2018) Ohio State (2019–2020) | ||||||||||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 2021: 1st round, 11th pick | ||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Justin Skyler Fields (born March 5, 1999) is an American professionalfootballquarterback for theNew York Jets of theNational Football League (NFL). Following a stint with theGeorgia Bulldogs, he playedcollege football for theOhio State Buckeyes, where he was twice named theBig Ten Offensive Player of the Year and appeared in the2021 National Championship Game.
Fields was selected in the first round of the2021 NFL draft by theChicago Bears, with whom he set the single-game regular season record for quarterback rushing yards and became the third NFL quarterback ever to have a 1,000-yard rushing season. After three seasons with the Bears, Fields was traded to thePittsburgh Steelers in 2024.
Fields attendedHarrison High School inKennesaw, Georgia. In two years as the starting quarterback for Harrison, he totaled 4,187 passing yards, 41 passing touchdowns, 2,096 rushing yards, and 28 rushing touchdowns.[1] In the summer before his senior year in 2017, he attended theElite 11 quarterback competition and was named MVP of the event.[2] Late in his senior year, in a game that was nationally televised onESPN, he suffered a broken finger that required season-ending surgery. After his senior season, he was named Mr. Georgia Football by the Touchdown Club of Atlanta, as well as first-team all-state.[3] In addition to football, Fields was also a standout baseball player for Harrison High.[1]
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40‡ | Commit date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Fields QB | Kennesaw, GA | Harrison | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 221 lb (100 kg) | 4.51 | Oct 6, 2017 |
Star ratings:Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 94 | ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals:2(Nat.) 1(QB-DT) 247Sports:2(Nat.) 1(QB-DT) ESPN:1(Nat.) 1(QB-DT) | ||||||
Sources:
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Fields was rated as a five-star recruit and was the highest rateddual-threat quarterback in the class of 2018 by ESPN,Rivals.com, and247Sports.com.[4][5][6] ESPN listed him as the top recruit overall, while Rivals and 247Sports ranked him second behind fellow quarterback and Georgia nativeTrevor Lawrence.[7] In October 2017, Fields committed to theUniversity of Georgia to play college football after withdrawing a previous commitment toPenn State.[8] His senior year was documented in the second season of theNetflix seriesQB1: Beyond the Lights (2018).[9]
| Season | Passing | Rushing | Season | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | TD | Win | Loss | |
| 2016 | 186 | 279 | 66.7 | 2,770 | 23 | 6 | 117.5 | 191 | 1,176 | 15 | 10 | 2 |
| 2017 | 81 | 127 | 63.8 | 1,417 | 18 | 2 | 134.7 | 109 | 920 | 13 | 5 | 2 |
| Career | 267 | 406 | 65.8 | 4,187 | 41 | 8 | 125.3 | 300 | 2,096 | 28 | 15 | 4 |
In his true freshman season at Georgia in 2018, Fields served as the backup to starting quarterbackJake Fromm. In Georgia's season opener againstAustin Peay, Fields made his debut in the second quarter and started the second half. He completed seven of eight passes on the day, including a 10-yard touchdown pass toIsaac Nauta in the 45–0 victory.[10] On September 29, againstTennessee, he had five carries for 45 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the 38–12 victory.[11] In a late-season 66–27 rout ofUMass, Fields threw two touchdowns passes and ran for another on the ground, finishing with 121 passing yards and 100 rushing yards.[12]
During the 2018 season, Fields saw action in 12 games, totaling 328 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, 266 rushing yards, and four rushing touchdowns.[13] Following Georgia's loss toAlabama in the2018 SEC Championship Game, Fields announced his intent to transfer toOhio State.[14][15]
Fields, who would normally be required to sit out for one year due to NCAA transfer rules, sought a waiver to be able to play immediately for Ohio State.[16] Fields enlisted the help of attorney Thomas Mars, who helped secure immediate eligibility for several transfers fromOle Miss in 2018, including quarterbackShea Patterson.[16] Mars and Fields argued that Fields should be granted a waiver for immediate eligibility due to an NCAA guideline that waives the waiting period for athletes with "documented mitigating circumstances that are outside the student-athlete’s control and directly impact the health, safety and well-being of the student-athlete."[16] Fields was subject to an incident at Georgia in which a Bulldogs baseball player used a racial slur against Fields.[17] This was believed to be the main incident constituting Fields' claim of "mitigating circumstances", although the full contents of the waiver request were never made public.[18] On February 8, 2019, Fields was granted immediate eligibility for the 2019 season by the NCAA.[19]
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In Fields'first season with the Buckeyes, he helped lead the team to aBig Ten Championship with a 34–21 victory overWisconsin, and a spot in theCollege Football Playoff.[20] Fields finished third in the running for theHeisman Trophy, was named theBig Ten Offensive Player of the Year andfirst-team all-conference.[21] In the2019 Fiesta Bowl againstClemson, he had 320 passing yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in the 29–23 loss in the College Football Playoff semifinal.[22] He finished the season with 3,273 passing yards, 41 passing touchdowns, and three interceptions to go along with 484 rushing yards and ten rushing touchdowns.[23]
Fields entered the2020 season as a leading candidate for theHeisman Trophy.[24] The season was played amid the ongoingCOVID-19 pandemic, with the Big Ten Conference ultimately opting for a shortened conference-only schedule after initially canceling. Fields was vocal in his support of playing the season, and he started an online petition that gathered over 320,000 signatures in support of that goal.[25]
Fields helped lead the Buckeyes to another undefeated regular season andBig Ten Championship with a 22–10 victory overNorthwestern. Ohio State received another bid to theCollege Football Playoff, playing a rematch againstClemson. Ohio State was victorious inthe rematch, 49–28, with Fields throwing 385 passing yards and six touchdowns in the game. Fields took a hard hit to the midsection in the game and played through the injury in a performance thatSports Illustrated dubbed "legendary".[26] The Buckeyes advanced to theCollege Football Playoff National Championship, where they lost toAlabama, 52–24. Fields finished the shortened 2020 season with 2,100 passing yards, 22 passing touchdowns, and six interceptions, he also added 383 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns on the ground.[27] He repeated as the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year and unanimous first-team all-conference. On January 18, 2021, Fields announced that he would be forgoing his final two years of eligibility to enter the2021 NFL draft.[28]
| Season | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Avg | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | |||
| 2018 | Georgia | 12 | 0 | — | 27 | 39 | 69.2 | 328 | 8.4 | 4 | 0 | 173.7 | 42 | 266 | 6.3 | 4 | |
| 2019 | Ohio State | 14 | 14 | 13−1 | 238 | 354 | 67.2 | 3,273 | 9.2 | 41 | 3 | 181.4 | 137 | 484 | 3.5 | 10 | |
| 2020 | Ohio State | 8 | 8 | 7−1 | 158 | 225 | 70.2 | 2,100 | 9.3 | 22 | 6 | 175.6 | 81 | 383 | 4.7 | 5 | |
| Career | 34 | 22 | 20−2 | 423 | 618 | 68.4 | 5,701 | 9.2 | 67 | 9 | 178.8 | 260 | 1,133 | 4.4 | 19 | ||
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | Broad jump | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft2+3⁄4 in (1.90 m) | 227 lb (103 kg) | 32+1⁄2 in (0.83 m) | 9+1⁄8 in (0.23 m) | 4.46 s | 1.59 s | 2.60 s | 9 ft 11 in (3.02 m) | |||||
| All values fromPro Day[29][30][31] | ||||||||||||
Fields was selected 11th overall in the2021 NFL draft by theChicago Bears, who traded up with theNew York Giants in exchange for the 20th overall pick, their fifth-round pick in 2021, and their first and fourth-round picks in 2022.[32] A top quarterback prospect in the draft, Fields was one of five taken in the first round. He signed his four-year rookie contract, worth $18.8 million fully guaranteed, on June 10, 2021.[33]
Although Fields was named the second-string quarterback behindAndy Dalton, he made his NFL debut in the season opener against theLos Angeles Rams, taking the field on four plays. He scored a five-yard rushing touchdown and completed two passes for 10 yards in the 34–14 defeat.[34] After Dalton suffered a knee injury in Week 2 against theCincinnati Bengals, Fields entered the game in the third quarter. Fields completed 6 of 13 passes for 60 yards with one interception, while also rushing for 31 yards, as the Bears won 20–17.[35] With Dalton sidelined from his injury, Fields was named the starter in the following week's matchup against theCleveland Browns.[36] His starting debut saw him sacked 9 times, 4.5 of which were delivered by defensive endMyles Garrett, while completing 6 of 20 passes for 68 yards. The Bears, who finished with 47 yards of offense, lost 26–6.[37]
Fields won in his second career start the next week in a 24–14 victory against theDetroit Lions. He completed 11 of 17 passes for 209 yards and had one interception off a deflected pass.[38] After Fields was named the starter for the remainder of the season, he led the Bears to a 20–9 victory over theLas Vegas Raiders in Week 5, completing 12 of 20 passes for 111 yards and throwing his first touchdown pass to tight endJesper Horsted.[39][40] In Week 7 against theTampa Bay Buccaneers, Fields committed 5 turnovers – 3 interceptions and 2 lost fumbles – as the Bears were defeated 38–3.[41] Fields had his first 100-yard rushing game the next week against theSan Francisco 49ers, throwing for 175 yards and a touchdown, and also scored a rushing touchdown. However, the game ended in a 33–22 defeat, with Fields throwing an interception on the Bears' final drive.[42] In the following week'sMonday Night Football matchup with thePittsburgh Steelers, Fields threw for a career-high 291 yards, but despite rallying to give the Bears a 27–26 lead in the fourth quarter, the Steelers pulled away to win 29–27.[43]
In Week 11 against theBaltimore Ravens, Fields exited the game in the third quarter with an injury to his ribs. He was replaced by Dalton in the 16–13 loss.[44] After the game, it was announced Fields had multiple cracked ribs, which forced him to miss the Bears' next two matchups.[45][46] He returned in a Week 14 loss to theGreen Bay Packers, but an ankle injury in the following week's defeat to theMinnesota Vikings sidelined him for another two games.[47] Fields tested positive forCOVID-19 ahead of the season finale, making the Week 15 game the last of his rookie year.[48] He finished the season fifth in quarterback rushing yards at 420, the most among rookies, but also had the third-most quarterback fumbles at 12 and the second-most lost fumbles at 5.[49]
Fields' 2022 season began with a 19–10 victory over the 49ers, completing 8 of 17 passes for 121 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.[50] The Bears lost four of their next five games, including a three-game losing streak, which saw Fields complete 56.1% of his passes for 748 yards, two touchdowns, and four interceptions, and rush for 254 yards on 43 carries.[51] The losing streak ended in Week 7 with aMonday Night Football victory over theNew England Patriots, during which Fields completed 13 of 21 passes for 179 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, and rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries to secure the 33–14 upset.[52]
In Week 9 against theMiami Dolphins, Fields set the NFL single-game regular season record for quarterback rushing yards at 178, surpassingMichael Vick's 20-year record.[53] He also became the first NFL player to have three touchdown passes and rush for at least 150 yards in the same game and scored the Bears franchise's longest quarterback rushing touchdown at 61 yards.[54] Although the Bears lost 35–32, Fields was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week.[55][56] In the next week's matchup with the Lions, Fields became the first NFL quarterback to rush for 140 yards in consecutive games and the first in the Super Bowl era to have multiple rushing touchdowns of over 60 yards. However, the Bears lost 31–30.[57]
During a Week 11 loss to theAtlanta Falcons, Fields suffered an injury to his non-throwing shoulder, which sidelined him for a week.[58][59] He returned in Week 13 against the Packers and became the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era to rush for a touchdown in six consecutive games, although the Bears would lose 28–19.[60] Fields suffered a hip injury in a Week 17 loss to the Lions, which caused him to miss the season finale against the Vikings.[61] Fields and the Bears would not win another game in 2022 after their Week 7 victory, dropping the team to a league-worst 3–14 record.[62]
Fields finished his second year with 1,143 rushing yards, making him the third NFL quarterback after Vick andLamar Jackson to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.[63] However, he also led the league in sacks taken at 55 and fumbles at 16.[64][65] He was ranked 86th by his fellow players on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2023.[66]
Fields'2023 season began with a 38–20 loss against the Packers, completing 24 of 37 passes for 216 yards, one touchdown, and an interception that became a pick-six. In Week 2 against the Buccaneers, Fields completed 16 passes on 29 attempts for 211 yards, and one touchdown to two interceptions. With the loss, the Bears started 0–2 for the first time since2017. In Week 3, the Bears traveled toArrowhead Stadium inKansas City to facePatrick Mahomes and theKansas City Chiefs, losing 41–10. Fields completed 11 passes on 22 attempts for 99 yards, one touchdown, and an interception, and rushed 11 times for 47 yards. The Bears started 0–3 for the first time since2016.[67] Despite suffering a head injury, Fields did not miss a play.[68]
In Week 4 against theDenver Broncos, Fields started a perfect 16 for 16 in the first half, which was a Bears franchise record. Fields also had his first career 300-yard passing game. Fields and the Bears had a 28–7 lead in the 3rd quarter, but ultimately lost 31–28. In the fourth quarter, a fumble by Fields was recovered for a touchdown byJonathon Cooper. In total, Fields completed 28 of 35 passes for 335 yards, and threw four touchdown passes and one interception.[69] The following week against theWashington Commanders, Fields would finally lead the Bears to their first win of the year, a 40–20 victory that saw Fields toss four touchdowns for the second straight week, three of which were to star wideoutD. J. Moore.[70]
In Week 6 against the Vikings, Fields struggled mightily, being pressured constantly and only completing 6 of his 10 passes for 58 yards and an interception along with 4 sacks. Early in the third quarter, Fields dislocated his shoulder and thumb while being sacked byDanielle Hunter and was replaced by undrafted rookieTyson Bagent for the rest of the game as the Bears lost 19–13 to fall to 1–5. Fields would go on to miss the next four games. He returned in Week 11 against the Lions, in which the Bears took a 26–14 lead late in the fourth quarter, but ended up losing, dropping to 3–8. Fields finished the game with 169 yards passing and a touchdown while also rushing eighteen times for a team-high 104 yards. Fields and the Bears then played the Vikings onMonday Night Football in Week 12, where the Bears won 12–10 off a game-winning field goal with 10 seconds left. Fields threw for 217 yards, including the 36-yard pass toDJ Moore that put the Bears in field goal range late in the 4th quarter, and rushed for an additional 59 yards.[71]
Fields finished his third season setting career-highs in completion percentage (61.4%) and passing yards (2,562) along with throwing a career-low nine interceptions.[72] With the Bears holding the first overall pick in the2024 NFL draft, Fields headed into the offseason facing uncertainty about his future as the team's starting quarterback, with questions arising over whether Chicago would stick with Fields or select a new quarterback in the draft.[73]
On March 16, 2024, Fields was traded to thePittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a conditional sixth-round pick in the2025 NFL draft that would have converted to a fourth if he played 51% of the team's snaps, however, he played in less than the said threshold, failing the condition to convert it to a fourth.[74][75] The Steelers declined the fifth-year option on Fields' contract, making him a free agent after the 2024 season.[76] Following a preseason quarterback competition between Fields andRussell Wilson, the Steelers announced that Fields would backup Wilson to start the season.[77] Prior to Week 1, Wilson reaggravated a calf injury during practice. He was later ruled out, thrusting Fields into the starting role for the season opener against theAtlanta Falcons.[78] He completed 17-of-23 pass attempts for 156 yards, zero touchdowns, and zero turnovers. He also added 57 rushing yards as the Steelers won 18–10.[79] With Wilson still not cleared to play in Week 2 against theDenver Broncos, Fields was once again named the team's starter. During the game, Fields committed no turnovers and scored his first touchdown as a Steeler on a five yard pass to tight endDarnell Washington. The Steelers would defeat the Broncos with a final score of 13-6, giving Fields his second consecutive win as the Steelers' starting quarterback.[80] His style of play through his three starts as a dynamic quarterback drew comparisons with former Steelers quarterback/wide receiverKordell Stewart.[81]
Through his first three starts with the Steelers, Fields completed 73.3% of his passes (55 of 75), averaging 6.9 yards per throw and committed one turnover against three total touchdowns, two passing and one rushing.[82] This marks the first time in Fields' professional career where he has led his team to three straight wins in the starting position.[83]Fields would follow up his three straight victories with two straight losses to theIndianapolis Colts andDallas Cowboys with a combined three touchdowns and 443 passing yards.[84]
On October 15, 2024, Fields was demoted to backup quarterback duties as Wilson's calf injury had healed.[85] The change at quarterback came following a Steelers 32–13 win over theLas Vegas Raiders in which Fields completed 14-of-24 passes for 145 yards, committing no turnovers and scoring two rushing touchdowns.[86] During Week 11's 18-16 victory over theBaltimore Ravens, Fields returned to the quarterback position for one play. In the closing seconds of regulation, Fields took a snap and ran to his left before sliding just a yard shy of afirst down to run time off theplay clock and secure a Steelers victory.[87]
Throughout much of the season following his benching, Fields was utilized in multiple "package plays" that typically included quarterback sneak plays and blitz-countering scramble short passes, typically to convert third and fourth downs.[88] He finished the 2024 season completing 65% of his passes for 1,106 yards, 10 total touchdowns (five passing, five rushing) and just one interception. He appeared in 10 total games, starting six. He briefly appeared in two package plays during the Steelers' 28-14 loss to theBaltimore Ravens in AFC Wild Card playoff game, handing off the ball toJaylen Warren on an read pass option play as well as throwing an incomplete pass intended forDarnell Washington.[89]
On March 13, 2025, Fields signed a two-year, $40 million contract with theNew York Jets.[90][91][92]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Sacks | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Sck | Yds | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2021 | CHI | 12 | 10 | 2−8 | 159 | 270 | 58.9 | 1,870 | 6.9 | 64 | 7 | 10 | 73.2 | 72 | 420 | 5.8 | 23 | 2 | 36 | 264 | 12 | 5 |
| 2022 | CHI | 15 | 15 | 3−12 | 192 | 318 | 60.4 | 2,242 | 7.1 | 56 | 17 | 11 | 85.2 | 160 | 1,143 | 7.1 | 67 | 8 | 55 | 359 | 16 | 2 |
| 2023 | CHI | 13 | 13 | 5−8 | 227 | 370 | 61.4 | 2,562 | 6.9 | 58 | 16 | 9 | 86.3 | 124 | 657 | 5.3 | 39 | 4 | 44 | 285 | 10 | 4 |
| 2024 | PIT | 10 | 6 | 4−2 | 106 | 161 | 65.8 | 1,106 | 6.9 | 55 | 5 | 1 | 93.3 | 62 | 289 | 4.7 | 30 | 5 | 16 | 124 | 6 | 1 |
| Career | 50 | 44 | 14−30 | 684 | 1,119 | 61.1 | 7,780 | 7.0 | 64 | 45 | 31 | 83.9 | 418 | 2,509 | 6.0 | 67 | 19 | 151 | 1,032 | 44 | 12 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Sacks | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Sck | Yds | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2024 | PIT | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 39.6 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 39.6 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Fields is aChristian.[98] Fields was diagnosed withepilepsy as a freshman in high school. His condition was made public during his pre-draft interviews with NFL teams in 2021.[99][100] In high school, he had a score of 29 on hisACT and held a 3.9grade point average.[101] Fields is apescetarian.[102] His sister Jaiden plays for theGeorgia Bulldogs softball team.[103] Fields graduated with a degree in consumer and family financial services from Ohio State in May 2023.[104][105]
