While the Pittsburgh Steelers continue to wait for an answer from Aaron Rodgers on his retirement decision, the Kansas City Chiefs have made an unlikely move at quarterback. Per NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Chiefs are finalizing a trade with the New York Jets for the former first-round QB. The Jets are expected to get a sixth-round pick in return.
Chiefs fans are likely falling for the athletic upside Fields possesses, slipping into the same trap that the Bears, Steelers, and Jets already suffered.
But the Steelers know how this will play out. For all of his talent, Fields isn't the steady quarterback the Chiefs are hoping for.
Pittsburgh Steelers fans already know how the Chiefs' trade for Justin Fields will work out
Not too long ago, the Steelers jumped on the opportunity to trade for Fields, sending a conditional sixth-round pick to Chicago for the young quarterback. While he hadn't been successful with the Bears, the Steelers were convinced they could fix him.
Of course, it didn't work out for Pittsburgh. Fields took a back seat to Russell Wilson halfway through the season after an up-and-down start and never regained his starting job. Then, the Jets took a chance on the quarterback, hoping that they were the team to maximize his talents. Yet again, the experiment failed. He was benched in the middle of the season after struggling in New York.
The Chiefs are the latest in a long line of teams enticed by the physical traits of a quarterback with no proven track record. They may not be relying on him to start in meaningful games. Patrick Mahomes is hoping to be ready to return from his injury to start the 2026 season.
But if he experiences any setbacks in his recovery, the Chiefs would likely have to trot Fields out as their starter in Week 1. A season full of Super Bowl aspirations could be heavily affected by the inconsistency of a quarterback who has struggled for three different teams.
If his history is any indication, Kansas City won't be able to count on Fields to lead a productive offense with any consistency. He could be a capable backup in a limited role, but he's not the dynamic player the Chiefs are likely hoping for.
The Steelers may not have their quarterback situation solidified quite yet, but they surely won't fall for the Fields hype as the Chiefs have.