Two former Ohio State Buckeyes are keeping their competitive fire burning during the offseason. C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans and Justin Fields of the New York Jets have been spotted working out together, showcasing the quarterback skills that made them both first-round NFL Draft picks.
The July training session carries extra significance for Fields, who signed a two-year, $40 million deal with the Jets in March. After spending 2024 with Pittsburgh, Fields now faces the pressure of leading a franchise desperate for stability at quarterback.
Buckeye Brotherhood Stays Strong Through Joint Workout
The video captures both quarterbacks grinding through fundamental drills at an outdoor facility. Both quarterbacks work through their dropback progressions, nailing those 3-step and 5-step drops that form the backbone of any passing game.
The precision matters. In the NFL, being half a second late on your drop can mean the difference between a completion and a sack.
What really jumps out is their work on rollout drills. Fields and Stroud demonstrate textbook shoulder alignment while moving outside the pocket. This skill has become essential in today’s NFL. Defenses are too fast and too complex to stay in one spot. Quarterbacks who can’t create plays on the move simply don’t last.
CJ Stroud and Justin Fields putting in work together 💯 pic.twitter.com/iWtukxhpam
— G.O.A.T. Farm Sports (@GOATfarmmedia) July 3, 2025
The chemistry between Stroud and Fields tells its own story. They’re pushing each other, feeding off that competitive energy that Ohio State breeds into its signal-callers.
For Fields, this workout takes on added importance. He’s entering a make-or-break situation with the Jets, who haven’t had consistent quarterback play in years. Working alongside Stroud, who’s already proven himself as a franchise quarterback, gives Fields a measuring stick for where he needs to be.
Different Paths to NFL Success
The contrast between their recent careers makes this partnership fascinating. Stroud has been everything Houston hoped for when they drafted him. His 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign saw him throw for 4,108 yards with 23 touchdowns against just five interceptions. The numbers dipped slightly in 2024 (3,727 yards, 20 touchdowns), but he still led the Texans to their second straight playoff appearance.
Fields brings a different skill set to the table. His 2024 season in Pittsburgh showcased improved accuracy (65.8% completion rate) alongside his trademark mobility. He threw for 1,106 yards and five touchdowns while adding 289 rushing yards and five more scores on the ground in limited action.
The dual-threat element makes Fields a unique weapon. Defenses have to account for his legs on every snap, which opens up passing lanes that pocket quarterbacks don’t get. The Jets are banking on that versatility translating into wins.
History already links these two quarterbacks. They became the first Ohio State signal-callers to win Week 1 NFL games in the same season, adding another chapter to the program’s quarterback legacy.
Their time at Ohio State barely overlapped. Stroud arrived on campus in 2020 just as Fields was preparing for his final college season. Yet the foundation of excellence they both absorbed in Columbus continues to connect them.
This offseason training partnership shows the lasting bonds formed at Ohio State and the commitment these quarterbacks share to reaching their potential.
As Fields prepares for his fresh start in New York and Stroud aims to build on his early success in Houston, their shared workout demonstrates that iron still sharpens iron, even when wearing different uniforms.