Ahead of the Week 7 game against the New York Jets in 2024, the Pittsburgh Steelers benched quarterback Justin Fields.
He has remained silent on the subject matter until now. On Wednesday, April 9, Fields addressed the Jets media and was asked to reflect on getting benched and how things played out.
“I’m a big believer in everything happens for a reason. So I was put in a place where I [have] never [been] my entire life. I tried to have a different perspective on it,” Fields explained. “It was, of course, different for me in a space where I wasn’t necessarily comfortable, but at the end of the day, like I said, coach [Mike] Tomlin made a decision where he thought was best for the team. Like I said, I am never gonna go against that, of course. I’m not a selfish guy whatsoever. So I just tried to change my perspective, get better each and every day in practice.”
.@ZackBlatt asked #Jets QB Justin Fields how he reflects on how things played out w/ the #Steelers & getting benched:
‘I’m a big believer in everything happens for a reason.’
‘It was of course different for me & a space I wasn’t necessarily comfortable but at the end of the… pic.twitter.com/rFvhoPjvxO
— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) April 9, 2025
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Fields Denies That Steelers Benching Had Any Impact on Free Agency Decision
Later during Fields’ media availability, he was asked if the Steelers’ benching him last season played any role in his free agency decision this spring.
“Not really. I kind of have the mindset you can’t take things personal. That is one thing I’ve learned over the years, not to take anything personally. At the end of the day, I was just excited for what the Jets had going on here with AG [Aaron Glenn] and the coaching staff. It didn’t really have anything to do with Pittsburgh but just the opportunity I had here to make an impact,” Fields said.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport said on March 10 that the Steelers’ benching Fields weighed on him as he made his decision in free agency.
Fields will have his chance at revenge. The Jets are set to host the Steelers during the 2025 season. The NFL plans on releasing the new schedule the second week of May.
The Jets Are Getting Someone With a Massive Chip on Their Shoulder
Fields didn’t shy away from talking about the chip that is on his shoulder.
The former No. 11 overall pick in the first round has yet to find his footing at the NFL level. There have been plenty of flashes that show he has the stuff, but there has been a lack of consistency.
Fields talked about how everyone’s path is different in the NFL, and he’s hoping to find the same success that former first-rounders Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield have had in their second, third, and fourth acts.
The Jets are going to use Fields’ legs. That will be a weapon for this offense. However, the theme from the coaching staff is letting Fields play the quarterback position in New York.
“I did what I was asked to do. I’ve never had a problem with that. I’ve always been a team player. I’m not going to get too much in depth into what happened in Chicago or Pittsburgh, but I’m grateful for all the experiences I had,” Fields told the media via Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic.
Justin Fields on Aaron Glenn’s comments about finally letting him “play quarterback” which Glenn maybe felt he hadn’t been asked to do previously in the NFL:
“I did what I was asked to do. I’ve never had a problem with that. I’ve always been a team player. I’m not going to get…
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) April 9, 2025
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