The New York Jets finally won their first game of the season in their 39-38 upset of the Cincinnati Bengals. Yet, even with this result, a former Super Bowl champion felt the need to take a shot at Justin Fields for the quarterback’s postgame press conference.
What did LeSean McCoy say about Justin Fields’ postgame comments?
It’s been a trying first season for Justin Fields with the New York Jets. The 2021 first-round is 29th in QBR for a passing offense that ranks last in yards per game. Fields, however, was one of the heroes Sunday afternoon, completing 21 of 32 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown.
It was an emotional game for the New York Jets, particularly in light of the passing of franchise legend Nick Mangold. In his postgame press conference, Fields detailed his own mental hardships during the past week, revealing that he recently was in a closet “crying on the ground”.
This vulnerability from Justin Fields is extraordinary and is sure to help some people navigating a difficult time
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> pic.twitter.com/XR6nebKQ1c— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) October 27, 2025
Going into Sunday, the 26-year-old was likely going to stay on the bench until Tyrod Taylor was ruled out with a knee injury. Field seized his opportunity, and now will likely be the team’s starting quarterback heading into the bye week.
LeSean McCoy, however, did not appreciate the Jets quarterback’s vulnerable press conference. During a segment on the “Speakeasy” podcast, the two-time Super Bowl champion explained that there was no need for Fields to get that emotional and that he’s been in a similar position before.
“I was in his position before, and I didn’t have his career at all; it was actually the opposite,” McCoy said. “I do all these good things, and then it came to a point where I got older and had coaches say, ‘You know what, I know you were this good, I know your name is LeSean McCoy and all that. But guess what, for us, we don’t want you for that, we want you to be a mentor.’
How do you think I felt? Am I’m being real with you. I had to suck it up and get to my job. Every time you have a good game, you’re going to have an emotional breakdown? It’s the NFL we’re playing in! There are guys who get paid all this money, and a dude beat them out, and they don’t get any of it. You don’t do that.”
McCoy has criticized Fields before for his on-field play, noting that the former Ohio State standout has been overly reliant on his athleticism throughout his career and has not shown improvement as a passer.
Overall, though, this criticism from the Philadelphia Eagles legend is a bit odd, considering that he admitted that his benching drove him to tears as well. In addition, Fields noted that he was having a temporary crisis of faith when he broke down emotionally, and that a call to family members helped him get back on track.
In a league where athletes often face immense pressure and scrutiny, Fields’ statement serves as a testament to the strength found in vulnerability and the power of resilience. Plenty of athletes have certainly been through more adversity than the Jets’ quarterback, but that doesn’t mean he should be criticized for being this open and honest.
