Quarterback Justin Fields was with the Chicago Bears from 2021 through the 2023 season as first-year New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn served as the defensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions.
It turns out that being on opposite sides of that rivalry played a part in Fields' decision to sign with the Jets in free agency.
"I think, No. 1, coach Glenn," Fields recently told Randy Lange of the Jets' website about why he picked the AFC East side. "I've played against him early in my career. I know how passionate he is about the game, the way he coaches, the way his players play. So I think that was the biggest thing for me. And just the opportunity, the fans, of course, the city. When you win here, there's no better place to win. Those reasons are ultimately why I ended up here."
Fields leaving the Pittsburgh Steelers to join the Jets has been a hotly-discussed topic in certain NFL circles throughout March. Some assume no other club matched the two-year, $40M deal with $30M guaranteed he received from Gang Green. Others have reported that the Steelers wouldn't guarantee he'd enter September as their undisputed starter.
Reporters such as Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic have mentioned that "Fields prioritized the Jets" in part because Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin benched the 26-year-old in favor of Russell Wilson this past fall "against the wishes of many in that Steelers locker room" when the club was 4-2.
Those things didn't hurt the Jets' pursuit of Fields, but his respect for Glenn shouldn't be understated.
"Our relationship playing against each other means a lot because Detroit, of course, they've had a lot of success the past couple of years," Fields said about Glenn. "So for him to want me here is definitely an honor, and I'm going to put it all on the line for him and do all I can to help this team be successful."
Fields added that he knows he has "some untapped potential" and is "hoping to put it on display for everybody to see" with the Jets. If he does just that, perhaps he will prove to be the savior the Jets were hoping they were getting when they acquired Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers back in the spring of 2023.
