Justin Fields, Jets Can Make ‘What-If’ A Reality

It is a budding endorsement of Fields, who, like the Jets, has gone through hardship over the past four seasons. Growing up in Georgia, Fields was consistently ranked as a top two quarterback in high school football. His ranking was much debated alongside fellow Georgia native, Trevor Lawrence. Throughout college, the pair continued to be tightly knit.

It was expected that when they entered the draft, Lawrence would go at one, and Fields would go at two. Yet, when the Jets gained possession of the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, BYU quarterback Zach Wilson rose throughout the mock draft rankings.

Despite besting Lawrence in the Sugar Bowl with a six-touchdown performance, Fields’ stock continued to fall. And come draft time, the Robert Saleh-led Jets made the decision to select Zach Wilson. For Fields, he would fall out of the top ten and land at No. 11, joining the Chicago Bears.

Fields’ Struggles

During his time in Chicago, Fields delivered a mixed bag of results. His first season, he operated primarily as the backup, only getting long stretches of play due to injuries to starter Andy Dalton.

In 2022, he became the starter. Prior to the season, the Bears hired new head coach Matt Eberflus and new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. With this, Fields had to learn a new offense. The team struggled, finishing 3-14. Fields flashed success along the way, however, and was expected to break out in 2023.

Fields didn’t meet those expectations, though. The Bears opened the season 0-4. Fields was injured in Week 5 and missed a majority of the season. He returned in Week 11, and the team finished strong, winning four of the last seven games. Even with the solid end of the season, the Bears had the first overall pick thanks to the Panthers. Fields was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers early in the offseason. A month later, the Bears opted to draft quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick.

In Pittsburgh, Fields opened the season as the starter due to a calf injury to projected starter Russell Wilson. Fields (with help from a stellar defense) led Pittsburgh to a 4-2 record. In a surprise to some, Russell Wilson regained the starting job in Week 7 despite the early success with Fields at the helm. Fields was benched for the remainder of the season.

Dysfunction Within New York

On the other hand, the Jets and Zach Wilson never had a chance.

Unlike Fields, Wilson showed little promise. In fact, it seemed the offense performed better under his backup, Mike White, when he was injured. In his second season, Wilson was benched for White, and the team looked to pivot in 2023. Mike LaFleur, a young, promising offensive coordinator, was seemingly scapegoated for Wilson’s lack of development. The Jets then hired their new offensive coordinator, Nathanial Hackett, former flameout head coach with the Denver Broncos and good friend of Aaron Rodgers.

The aforementioned Rodgers arrived in 2023, and for the first time in more than a decade, the Jets had optimism. Wilson could learn from an all-time great, and with their stout defense and a Hall of Fame quarterback, the Jets had serious Super Bowl aspirations. That was until the season started, when four plays into the first game, Rodgers tore his Achilles.

Wilson was thrust back into the starting role. The Hackett offense, led by Wilson, was abysmal. Meanwhile, LaFleur made the playoffs as offensive coordinator for the Rams in his first season away from Zach Wilson. Wilson was benched mid-season for the second year in a row and was traded following the season.

Rodgers returned for the 2024 season, a year older and farther removed from his last MVP season. There was still optimism in the building, but it culminated in a rollercoaster of a season. The Jets won two out of their first three games. In a panic, Head Coach Robert Saleh was fired after a Week 5 loss to the Vikings. The Jets acquired star receiver Davante Adams, another friend of Rodgers, and paired him with homegrown star receiver Garrett Wilson.

Yet, they continued to lose.

The Jets concluded the 2024 season 5-12, a far cry from the Super Bowl. Rodgers and Adams were released at the end of the season, general manager Joe Douglas was fired, and the Jets began their search for their next head coach.

What If?

Four years have passed since the Jets drafted Zach Wilson over Justin Fields.

Perhaps Fields would’ve fared better under Mike LaFleur instead of Luke Getsy. Maybe the Jets would’ve avoided the Aaron Rodgers soap opera if they had selected Fields. There is no way to know how the last four years would’ve played out for both parties if Fields was the quarterback Robert Saleh and his staff selected.

In the present day, the Jets have a rare chance at a do-over. Somehow, fate has drawn Fields to the Jets. Although the circumstances are different from they were in 2021. Robert Saleh is gone, and Aaron Glenn and his staff have taken his place. Fields now inherits an offense already equipped with star receiver Garrett Wilson, who was Fields’ teammate back in Ohio State. The defense has a plethora of talent, most notably standout cornerback Sauce Gardner.

With Justin Fields at the helm, the Jets do not need to ask “What-If?” any longer. They now have the chance to make it a reality.