Justin Fields made it clear Tuesday that joining the Chiefs was about more than just a fresh start.
For the former Bears first-round pick, the franchise’s draw was simple: Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid and the culture of winning in Kansas City.
“I wanted to come here because of the [Chiefs’] culture, because of Pat and to learn from him and coach Reid,” Fields said Tuesday, per ESPN. “Just the winning, to be honest.
“We of course knew of each other, but we really didn’t communicate before coming here. I’m excited to learn from [Mahomes]. I’m already kind of picking his brain a little bit and just observing how he goes about things in the meeting rooms, field and stuff like that. I’m excited, of course, to work with coach Reid and [offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy] and all the guys on offense.”
Fields, 27, was traded by the Jets to the Chiefs for a sixth-round pick in 2027 last month after a disastrous one-year pitstop in New York.
After signing a two-year, $40 million deal with $30 million guaranteed last offseason, Fields went 2-7 with the Jets and was benched in November.
A year before that, Fields had seemingly rejuvenated his career by going 4-2 as a starter for the Steelers in 2024 following a topsy-turvy three seasons in Chicago.
He is expected to serve as the backup to Mahomes, who suffered a torn ACL and LCL on Dec. 14, 2025.
Mahomes is targeting a Week 1 return, but Fields could end up as the Chiefs’ starter early on if he needs a little extra time to recover from the brutal injury.
“I was excited for a new start, the tradition here, the culture here,” Fields said. “Regardless of me starting or being a backup, I’m going to attack [each day] the same way. My goal is to get better, any way I can. My mindset doesn’t change.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
