Stephen A. Smith has eyebrow-raising comments on Justin Fields

For Fields, this opportunity is simply sink or swim.

Stephen A. Smith revealed the ultimatum of Fields’ contract with the Jets.

“I think his career is on the line,” Smith said. “I know he’s relatively young, but he was in Chicago, and then he moved on to Pittsburgh, and when he was in Pittsburgh, obviously there was some trepidation over who would be the starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers.”

Fields’ 2024 campaign was both promising and sobering. The Steelers went 4-2 in his starts before he was abruptly benched for Russell Wilson. By most efficiency metrics, it was the best year of his career. Freed from Chicago’s sticky incompetence, Fields exceeded expectations and looked like a fringe-average starting quarterback.

However, it would be a stretch to say Fields was anything more than that, or that his game is bound to take another step in the right direction. Being a franchise quarterback is still far in his right tail of outcomes, and by no means should he be expected to be the passer New York has been waiting a half-century for.

It is more likely that Fields crashes and burns than earns a second contract as a starter in East Rutherford. But the Jets don’t need him to be the savior. They need him to be fine and let everything else fall into place.

“You’re at Chicago, and we know that that was a dismal situation. Then you go to Pittsburgh, and now here you are in New York. Those would be three franchises. If it doesn’t work here, I’m not trying to say that his career would be over, guys.

“…I simply mean that looking at him as a starter in the National Football League, as the face behind center for a franchise, I think that that narrative will come to an end.”

We have to be a bit careful when Stephen A. talks football; so often he seems to be a casual fan (with a loud megaphone) at best.

But in the end?

There aren’t concerns about Fields’ football character, but there may be no greater pressure than knowing one’s career as a starter could be over with a down season. Fields has a unique opportunity waiting for him in New York, paired with receiver Garrett Wilson and a strong run game. His ability to take advantage of it could foreshadow the rest of his career.