Will Justin Fields Pass His 2025 Jets Audition?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated May 7, 2025 9:36 AM ET

The New York Jets might be looking at the 2025 season as a free hit at the quarterback position, but you can bet your house that Justin Fields doesn't see it that way.

Having been bounced from both the Chicago Bears and the Pittsburgh Steelers (even after going 4-2 last season), Fields arrives in New York to be the figurehead of Aaron Glenn's regime change.

Part of an offense under Tanner Engstrand that does have some weapons, Fields must do something he hasn't been able to do in his four years in the NFL - prove he's a bona fide starter.

Given how the Jets have structured Fields' contract, the two-year $40 million deal has an out after 2025, so if things go well, New York has Fields for only $20 million in 2026.

For ESPN's Rich Cimini, the Jets are in a good spot regarding their quarterback situation.

"If Fields fails his 2025 audition, the Jets can cut bait and look to find their quarterback in the 2026 draft," Cimini writes. "There is no clear-cut top quarterback, but it's regarded as a better class than 2025 even though it's not likely to include Texas' Arch Manning, according to ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller."

The 2025 season is for Fields to put himself in the shop window of quarterback-needy teams in 2026.

Last year with the Steelers, Fields was 4-2 as the starter, threw for five touchdowns, one interception, while having a career-high completion percentage of 65.8, and throwing for 1,106 yards. He also had 289 rushing yards and five touchdowns.

That is solid work, but the Steelers clearly wanted more, and Russell Wilson came in.

In New York, no quarterback is breathing down Justin's neck. This is his show in 2025, and he must produce in Engstrand's system, which will be a little easier with his Ohio State mate, Garrett Wilson, in the ranks.

2025 is looming as a big season for Fields, and he can't allow himself to follow a similar path to the previous year.

This is an audition he has to pass.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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