Trending Now - Chiefs Target Justin Fields as Backup QB Following Mahomes' Injury

WHO:

Justin Fields, quarterback

Kansas City Chiefs, NFL team

New York Jets, NFL team

Patrick Mahomes, two-time MVP and quarterback for the Chiefs

Darren Mougey, general manager of the Jets

Woody Johnson, owner of the Jets

Ryan Pace, former general manager of the Bears

Ryan Poles, current general manager of the Bears

WHAT:

Fields completed 62.7% of his passes during his time with the Jets, averaging 139.9 yards per game, with a passer rating of 89.5, which was the second-highest of his career.

Fields threw for fewer than 55 yards in four games, including a season-low of 27 yards in a loss to Buffalo in Week 2 of the 2025 season.

The Chiefs were searching for a veteran backup quarterback capable of filling in for Patrick Mahomes, who is recovering from a torn ACL.

The Chiefs' other quarterbacks are Chris Oladokun, who has two starts, and Jake Haener, who has one start.

Fields will be on his third team in three years since the Bears moved on from him to draft Caleb Williams in 2024.

The Jets traded for Geno Smith last week, which made Fields' departure more likely.

The Jets will only be responsible for $3.3 million of Geno Smith's compensation for the 2026 season after reworking his contract.

The Jets are trading Justin Fields and a seventh-round pick to the Chiefs in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2027 draft.

Fields averaged less than 140 passing yards per game during his time with the Jets, with a career-low 6.2 yards per attempt average.

Fields rushed for 383 yards and four touchdowns during his nine games with the Jets.

The Jets will only be responsible for $3.3 million of Geno Smith's compensation for the 2026 season after reworking his contract.

The cap savings generated by the trade for Fields is $11 million, while the dead money charges are $12 million, resulting in a net wash for the Jets.

The New York Jets agreed to trade Justin Fields to the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Jets will receive a sixth-round draft pick in 2027 for Fields.

The Jets will pay $7 million of Fields' guaranteed $10 million salary for the upcoming season.

Fields signed a two-year, $40 million deal with the Jets in March 2025, with $30 million guaranteed.

Fields went 2-7 as the Jets' starter, throwing for 1,259 yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception.

Fields was placed on injured reserve in late December 2025 due to a knee injury.

Fields has a career record of 16-37 as a starter, with 9,039 passing yards, 52 touchdowns, and 32 interceptions.

Fields rushed for 2,892 yards and 23 touchdowns in his career.

WHERE:

The trade involves the New York Jets and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Fields was previously with the Chicago Bears and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

WHEN:

The trade was reported on March 16th, 2026.

Fields signed with the Jets in March 2025.

Fields was benched in Week 12 of the 2025 season.

Fields was placed on injured reserve in late December 2025.

Fields was drafted 11th overall by the Bears in the 2021 NFL Draft.

WHY:

Woody Johnson, owner of the Jets, cited poor quarterback play by Fields as a primary reason for the team's struggles during the 2025 season, stating, "The defense is pretty good. If we can just complete a pass, it would look good."

The Jets traded Fields after acquiring Geno Smith, indicating Fields' days with the team were numbered.

Woody Johnson cited poor quarterback play by Fields as a primary reason for the Jets' struggles during the 2025 season.

HOW:

Fields expressed a preference to join the Chiefs, which influenced the trade decision.

The trade is pending a physical examination for Justin Fields.

(UPDATED March 17, 2026 15:21 UTC)

In a significant move, the Kansas City Chiefs have acquired quarterback Justin Fields, who completed 62.7% of his passes during his time with the Jets, averaging nearly 140 yards per game with a passer rating of 89.5. Fields, who struggled with consistency and threw for fewer than 55 yards in four games last season, will now serve as a veteran backup for Patrick Mahomes, who is recovering from a torn ACL. This trade comes after the Jets brought in Geno Smith last week, making Fields' departure more likely as he expressed a preference to join the Chiefs.

(UPDATED March 17, 2026 13:28 UTC)

In a significant move today, the Jets are trading Justin Fields and a seventh-round pick to the Chiefs for a sixth-round pick in the 2027 draft, following Fields' struggles with the Jets where he averaged less than 140 passing yards per game. During his nine games with the team, he rushed for 383 yards and four touchdowns, but the Jets will now only be responsible for $3.3 million of Geno Smith's compensation for the 2026 season after reworking his contract. The trade for Fields generates $11 million in cap savings for the Jets, although they will incur $12 million in dead money charges, resulting in a net wash for the team, with Fields reportedly expressing a preference to join the Chiefs.

(UPDATED March 17, 2026 11:18 UTC)

In a significant move, the New York Jets have agreed to trade quarterback Justin Fields to the Kansas City Chiefs, receiving a sixth-round draft pick in 2027 in return. Fields, who signed a two-year, $40 million deal with the Jets last March, struggled as a starter, going 2-7 and was placed on injured reserve in late December due to a knee injury. The trade is pending a physical examination for Fields, who will see the Jets cover $7 million of his guaranteed $10 million salary for the upcoming season.