The Kansas City Chiefs are trading for New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields in a huge shock.
After watching back up quarterback Gardner Minshew leave for the Arizona Cardinals in free agency, the Chiefs were desperate to recruit cover for the injured Patrick Mahomes.
In exchange for Fields, the Chiefs are sending a sixth-round pick in the 2027 NFL draft to the Jets. In exchange, Kansas City is taking on $3million of the $10m he is due to be paid next season.
Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl winner, is currently in the midst of rehabilitation after tearing his ACL towards the end of the regular season on December 14.
Trading for Fields means he instantly becomes the perennial Super Bowl contender’s starting quarterback throughout the summer, and possibly even in the early weeks of next season if Mahomes is not healthy in time.
It comes after Fields, who has struggled in the NFL since being drafted in the first round by the Chicago Bears in 2021, endured a miserable single season with the Jets.
The Kansas City Chiefs are trading for New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields in a huge shock
Fields will be the back up to Patrick Mahomes, who is currently dealing with a major knee injury
Mahomes tore his ACL on December 14 and is facing a race to be ready for the new season
They went 3-14 under first-year head coach Aaron Glenn, with Fields starting nine games. He won just two and New York has already recruited Geno Smith to be their starter next season as they quickly moved on from Fields.
Mahomes had surgery immediately but still faces a race against time to be healthy enough to play for the Chiefs in Week 1 of the 2026 season, starting in early September.
The Chiefs desperately need their star man back as they look to avenge a miserable 2025 campaign where they failed to make the playoffs.
As Mahomes recovers, the team have been on the rampage in rebuilding the roster.
They swooped for free agent running back Kenneth Walker, who was the Super Bowl MVP in February when the Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots in football’s showpiece game.
Reinforcements in defense have also arrived in the shape of Alohi Gilman, Khyiris Tonga and Kader Kohou.
Mahomes’ close friend Kelce has also agreed a one-year deal to keep on playing after a promising year individually at tight end, even while the team struggled overall.
The Chiefs also have two first-round picks in the NFL Draft next month, receiving an extra one from the Los Angeles Rams as part of the Trent McDuffie trade.
