NFL Coach: Jets' Justin Fields 'Is the Best Athlete on the Field Every Time He Plays'

After failing to turn things around with Aaron Rodgers under center, the New York Jets took a big swing in free agency by signing quarterback Justin Fields as his replacement.

While a two-year, $40 million deal with $30 million fully guaranteed is a hefty price to pay for an unproven player like Fields, The Athletic's Mike Sando spoke to a quarterbacks coach who praised Fields' athleticism and expressed optimism about how he fits with the Jets.

"Fields is the best athlete on the field every time he plays," the QBs coach said. "He’s really young (26). He’s a tough guy, physically and mentally. He can play in that style of (dual-threat) offense at a higher level than Sam Darnold can play in a traditional style of offense."

Fields is known for his dual-threat skills and has compiled 2,365 rushing yards across 44 career starts, the second-most by a quarterback to start his NFL career behind only Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson's 2,729, per Sando.

However, Fields also showed improvements in his passing skills in his lone year with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024. In six starts, he threw for five touchdowns and just one interception while completing a career-best 65.8 percent of his passes.

It will be up to new Jets head coach Aaron Glenn and first-year offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand to maximize Fields' skills as they try to lead the franchise out of the basement of the NFL.