Justin Fields was recently traded to the Kansas City Chiefs following his failed run with the New York Jets last year. The move essentially gives them insurance for Patrick Mahomes, who is currently recovering from knee surgery. Ross Tucker reacted to the trade by speculating on Fields’ desire to potentially revive his career under the guidance of head coach Andy Reid.
Ross Tucker Questions Justin Fields’ Rumored Preference to Join Chiefs
Fields reportedly preferred a trade to the Chiefs rather than some of his other alleged options during the 2026 NFL offseason, despite the presence of Mahomes. Tucker recently responded to the situation, wondering why the veteran quarterback would want to join a team with arguably the best quarterback in the league already on its roster. He speculated that he wanted to be coached by Reid.
“There were other options for Justin Fields, but his preference was to go to the Chiefs … Is it because Mahomes got injured in December and he thinks there’s a chance he can start the first few games of the year … Does he think Andy Reid can rehab him like Kyle Shanahan’s done for Sam Darnold and Mac Jones … His only chance to start in meaningful games is if the starter gets hurt,” stated Tucker.
It’s unclear at this point if Mahomes will be ready for the start of the upcoming season, so maybe Fields liked the opportunity to potentially start for the Chiefs to open the year. If he were to perform well, he could potentially increase his value as a free agent next year, or even theoretically be traded to a contending team upon Mahomes’ return.
Tucker also speculated that Fields could be looking at what happened with Sam Darnold after working with Kyle Shanahan as a backup for the San Francisco 49ers. It eventually led him to become a starter for the Minnesota Vikings, then again for the Seattle Seahawks, where he won a Super Bowl last season. He could be seeking a similar situation with Reid, another of the most respected offensive coaches in the NFL.
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While he ultimately failed to lock down the long-term job with the Jets, his season wasn’t all bad. He got off to a hot start to the season, finishing among the top eight quarterbacks in PFSN’s Impact Rankings in two of the first four weeks. He eventually lost his starting job to Tyrod Taylor before being traded to Kansas City in the offseason.
