Jets QB1 Brought a New Energy This Spring, Aims for Elite Status

Eric Allen

After a spring OTA practice in which the Jets' offense had a productive day, QBJustin Fieldstalked about becoming a more expressive player. A picture of calm throughout his career, Fields believes he can give teammates an added jolt with his enthusiasm.

"I try not to get too high, too low. And kind of what I want to work on is getting hype," he said. "I think today out at practice I was pretty energetic out there and I think the guys feed off of me. So just seeing that in me out there today. I'm going to try to be more vocal with the guys but usually I'm pretty even- keeled. I don't really get too high or too low, but I think this year I'm going to try to turn it up a notch and really just try to bring that energy each and every day on the practice field and of course in the games, too."

Fields is an electric player and there is plenty of reason to believe he will continue his ascent with the Jets. Since being selected No. 11 overall by the Bears in the 2021 NFL Draft, Fields has improved each of his four seasons in passer rating and completion percentage while lowering his interception percentage. When he's asked about expectations, Fields always says he sets the bar higher for himself than anyone externally.

"I think I can be a player who has no limits, a player who can help everyone around him better, a player who can lead a team, a player who can be that guy," he said during an appearance on "The Official Jets Podcast." "I'm just striving to be that player each and every day and really for everybody to know that I am that player. I know within myself I am that player, or I can get to that point, but I think it's more for me showing everyone else and proving not only to myself but proving to the world. You look at guys like Pat [Mahomes], you look at guys like Josh Allen, guys like Lamar [Jackson] where everyone knows they are elite quarterbacks. At the end of the day, that's kind of my goal and that's kind of where I want to get by the time I get done playing this sport."

Fields has not been afforded the continuity that Mahomes, Allen and Jackson have been blessed with in Kansas City, Buffalo and Baltimore, respectively. Mahomes, already an elite player, was paired with HC Andy Reid from the start;, Jackson, a two-time NFL MVP, has thrived under HC John Harbaugh and has taken things to the next level under OC Todd Monken;, and Allen, the reigning NFL MVP, has always had Sean McDermott as his HC and is entering a second season under OC Joe Brady. When Fields signed with the Jets in March, he joined his fourth pro team with a fourth HC in Aaron Glenn and a fourth OC in Tanner Engstrand.

"Of course, we're bringing in some of the same concepts from Detroit but like you said we have different players on this team, so it's not going to be the exact same as what they did in Detroit," Fields said. "In Detroit, they were 3-4 years in that offense. It's going to take some time, but we don't want it to take too much time. Of course we set a standard for ourselves to be great, to be competitive, be disciplined but in terms of how our offense is going to look -- I think Tanner is going to tailor it to the guys we have on the field and trying to get them the ball and kind of get a feel for what they do best in terms of a guy might run a certain route better than he does another route. Just finding what guys do best and utilizing them in a specific way to get them the ball and help our team be most successful."

The coolness kicks in for Fields when he speaks about learning a third language in as many offseasons. Engstrand, the passing game coordinator in Detroit in 2023-34, threw a lot at Fields in the spring and the Jets' QB1 welcomed the workload.

"I think the biggest thing is just the language," Fields said. "Everyone runs pretty much the same thing, but it's just the terminology that comes with the plays and stuff like that. That's the biggest thing that you're getting used to, but I'm no stranger to learning new offenses. So, it's been pretty smooth, the first month or two. Tanner has thrown a lot at us, but I think it's going to be good for us in the long run when training camp comes up. Guys will already have that banked in their head and certain concepts already because we addressed it now, but it's been good."

Fields had a solid spring, reuniting with star WRGarrett Wilsonand moving the ball around to other players like veteran WRJosh Reynolds, RBBreece Halll out of the backfield and rookie TEMason Taylor. He protected the rock and made plays with his feet. And Fields ingratiated himself to his teammates with his humility and interest in them off the field. With training camp on the horizon, Fields, who intends on being more animated and vocal, is embracing his new landscape.

"Time flies," he said with a smile. "I think I'm still a young guy but seeing the younger guys in the building, it's like they're 22, like 21 coming in. It kind of makes you look back and it's like, 'Yeah, I've been in the league for a long time now,' so I just have to remind myself that but time flies. I remember like it was yesterday getting drafted and my rookie year and stuff like that, but time's been definitely flying by."