Justin Fields Bio
Justin Skyler Fields is an American professional football quarterback. Born on March 5, 1999, in Kennesaw, Georgia, he currently plays for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). Following a freshman season with the Georgia Bulldogs, he transferred to the Ohio State Buckeyes, where he earned back-to-back Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors and reached the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship. Selected 11th overall in the 2021 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears, Fields has built a reputation as a dynamic dual-threat quarterback, highlighted by the NFL single-game regular-season record for quarterback rushing yards.
Early Life and Background
Justin Skyler Fields grew up in Kennesaw, Georgia, and attended Harrison High School, where he developed into one of the most highly regarded quarterback prospects in the country. Across two seasons as the starting quarterback, he accumulated 4,187 passing yards, 41 passing touchdowns, 2,096 rushing yards, and 28 rushing touchdowns, showcasing the dual-threat skill set that would later define his professional career. In the summer before his senior year, he was named MVP of the Elite 11 quarterback competition, cementing his status as a top recruit.
Fields’ senior season at Harrison was cut short by a broken finger that required surgery, but he was still named Mr. Georgia Football by the Touchdown Club of Atlanta and earned first-team all-state honors. He was also a standout baseball player, demonstrating his athletic versatility. Rated as a five-star recruit and the top dual-threat quarterback in the class of 2018 by ESPN, Rivals.com, and 247Sports.com, Fields initially committed to Penn State before flipping his pledge to the University of Georgia.
Path to the NFL
As a true freshman at Georgia in 2018, Fields served as a backup to Jake Fromm but made an immediate impression, completing seven of eight passes and throwing a touchdown in his debut against Austin Peay. He appeared in 12 games during the season, finishing with 328 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, 266 rushing yards, and four rushing touchdowns. Following Georgia’s loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, Fields announced his decision to transfer to Ohio State, citing mitigating circumstances related to an incident during his time in Athens.
After the NCAA granted him immediate eligibility in February 2019, Fields stepped into the starting role for the Ohio State Buckeyes. In his first season, he led the Buckeyes to a Big Ten Championship and a College Football Playoff berth, finishing third in the Heisman Trophy voting and earning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and first-team all-conference honors. In 2020, he repeated those accolades, guiding Ohio State to an undefeated regular season, a College Football Playoff semifinal victory over Clemson, and a spot in the National Championship Game against Alabama. On January 18, 2021, Fields declared for the NFL draft, forgoing his remaining eligibility.
Justin Fields Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Fields was selected 11th overall by the Chicago Bears in the 2021 NFL draft, signing a four-year rookie contract worth $18.8 million fully guaranteed. He opened his rookie season as the backup to Andy Dalton but was thrust into the starting role in Week 2 after Dalton suffered a knee injury. Despite a challenging debut against the Cleveland Browns in which he was sacked nine times, Fields recorded his first NFL win the following week against the Detroit Lions. A rib injury and a bout with COVID-19 limited his rookie campaign, but he finished the year with 420 rushing yards, the most among all NFL rookies at the quarterback position.
In 2022, Fields delivered a signature performance against the Miami Dolphins in Week 9, rushing for 178 yards to set the NFL single-game regular-season record for quarterback rushing yards, surpassing Michael Vick’s two-decade-old mark. He also became the third NFL quarterback, alongside Vick and Lamar Jackson, to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season, finishing the year with 1,143 rushing yards. However, he also led the league in sacks taken (55) and fumbles (16), and the Bears finished with a 3-14 record.
Chicago Bears Era (2023)
Fields’ third NFL season produced career highs in completion percentage (61.4%) and passing yards (2,562) while cutting his interceptions to a career-low nine. He opened the year 0-3 before posting his first career 300-yard passing game in a narrow loss to the Denver Broncos, completing his first 16 pass attempts. He guided the Bears to a 40-20 victory over the Washington Commanders in Week 5, connecting on four touchdown passes for the second consecutive week, including three to wide receiver D. J. Moore.
A dislocated shoulder and thumb injury forced Fields to miss four games midseason, but he returned to post a career-high 104 rushing yards against the Detroit Lions in Week 11. He closed the year with a game-winning 12-10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football, a result fueled by a 36-yard completion to D. J. Moore that set up the decisive field goal. Despite his growth, the Bears held the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, leaving Fields’ future in Chicago uncertain.
New York Jets Era (2025–Present)
On March 13, 2025, Fields signed a two-year, $40 million contract with the New York Jets, and general manager Darren Mougey named him the team’s starting quarterback on March 30. His tenure got off to a difficult start, as an October 12 game against the Denver Broncos produced what ESPN called the worst passing performance in Jets history, a 45-yard outing that contributed to a negative net passing yardage total unmatched in nearly three decades. Through seven games, the Jets remained winless, drawing public criticism from owner Woody Johnson.
Fields led the Jets to consecutive victories over the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns, but a loss to the New England Patriots was followed by a benching in favor of Tyrod Taylor. Knee soreness later forced him to miss a Week 14 matchup against the Miami Dolphins, and Fields was placed on injured reserve on December 23, 2025, ending his first season in New York. On March 18, 2026, the Jets traded him to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2027 NFL draft.
Notable Events and Milestones
Fields’ legacy is anchored by the NFL single-game regular-season record for quarterback rushing yards, set at 178 against the Miami Dolphins in 2022. He is one of only three NFL quarterbacks to have ever rushed for 1,000 yards in a single season and the first in the Super Bowl era to rush for a touchdown in six consecutive games. Across his career, he has appeared in two College Football Playoff National Championship Games, first with Ohio State in 2021 and most recently as a veteran leader.
Justin Fields Career Wins
Across his time with the Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New York Jets, Fields has accumulated regular-season victories that reflect both his individual playmaking and the team challenges he has faced. His first NFL victory came in Week 3 of the 2021 season against the Detroit Lions, and he later strung together three consecutive starts as a Steeler in 2024, his longest professional winning streak as a starter.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond regular-season play, Fields contributed to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ AFC Wild Card appearance in 2024, appearing in package plays during the postseason loss to the Baltimore Ravens. His collegiate ledger includes a Big Ten Championship, two College Football Playoff berths, and a victory over Clemson in the 2020 semifinal. He also earned two Big Ten Quarterback of the Year awards and a Big Ten Most Valuable Player honor in 2020.
Justin Fields Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Justin Skyler Fields was raised in Kennesaw, Georgia, where he came from an athletic family that supported his early development in multiple sports. His sister, Jaiden, played college softball at the University of Georgia, while his youngest sister, Jessica, has played college basketball at the University of Michigan. This family environment helped shape the work ethic and competitive drive that have defined his football career.
Personal Life
Fields is a Christian and a pescetarian, reflecting personal choices he has discussed publicly. He was diagnosed with epilepsy during his freshman year of high school, a condition revealed during pre-draft interviews with NFL teams in 2021. He maintained a 3.9 grade point average and scored a 29 on the ACT in high school, and he graduated from Ohio State in May 2023 with a degree in consumer and family financial services.
2025 Season Performance
Fields entered the 2025 season as the New York Jets’ starting quarterback under a two-year, $40 million contract, generating optimism about the franchise’s direction. The early months, however, were turbulent, marked by a winless start through seven games and a passing performance against the Denver Broncos that ranked among the worst in Jets history. The arrival of general manager Darren Mougey’s front office and a new coaching staff aimed to maximize Fields’ dual-threat abilities, but the team struggled to find rhythm in the passing game.
A late-October surge brought brief hope, as Fields led the Jets to back-to-back wins over the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns. The momentum stalled with a loss to the New England Patriots, and Fields was subsequently benched in favor of Tyrod Taylor. Knee soreness forced him to miss the Week 14 matchup against the Miami Dolphins, and a placement on injured reserve on December 23 ended his season.
Looking ahead, Fields’ future centers on a fresh start with the Kansas City Chiefs, who acquired him via trade in March 2026. His mobility, leadership, and prior experience in high-pressure environments position him as a potential contributor in Kansas City’s championship-caliber offense. The 2025 chapter, while disappointing in results, may ultimately serve as a turning point that reframes his professional narrative.
