Many things have gone on in the life of Justin Skyler Fields, just signed as the contender to become the Jets' new starting quarterback in free agency. On the football field, he was an "Elite" quarterback at his Georgia high school, a prolific passer in his two Ohio State seasons, a first-round NFL draft choice and a four-year starter. Off the field, he's a Christian and a pescatarian.
And among his set of NFL marks and distinctions in his young career is a connection to new Jets head coach Aaron Glenn. Here are seven areas you may not have known about Fields:
Elite at an Early Age
Fields showed his skills on a national stage when, in the summer before his 2017 senior season at Harrison HS in Kennesaw, GA, he participated in the Elite 11 high school quarterbacks competition. Not only was he one of the "Elite 11" finalists but he was also named MVP of the event.
Elite 11 is an invitational competition for high school QBs, with up to 500 QBs from around the country participating in regional events before the field is whittled down to the final 11, based on a flag football tournament and other events such as a distance throw. Former pro signal-caller Trent Dilfer is the lead coach of the event, and notable Elite 11 Finals alums include former future Jets Mark Sanchez, Geno Smith, Tim Tebow and, for one offseason, Teddy Bridgewater. And now Fields joins that group.
In two years as Harrison's starting QB, Fields put 69 touchdowns on the scoreboard — 41 passing, 28 rushing — and was also named first-team all-state and Mr. Georgia Football by the Touchdown Club of Atlanta.
"His Fire Runs Really Hot"
According to Sports Spectrum, a website where "sports and faith connect," Fields assembled one of the most prolific pair of seasons by an Ohio State quarterback ever." In the 2019-20 seasons, he started all 22 games (the '20 season cut short due to COVID), completed 396 of 579 passes for 5,373 yards, 63 TDs and 9 INTs and added 218 rushes (which in college include sacks) for 867 yards and 15 more scores. And the Buckeyes went 20-2.
By the start of his final season in Columbus, Fields was the Buckeyes captain and a meetings monster, always asking detailed questions and taking copious notes, OSU coach Ryan Day recalled. "One thing about Justin is he doesn't get rattled," Day has said. "He is very composed. He doesn't get too high, doesn't get too low. But he's driven, and his fire runs really hot inside."
Playing on God's Squad, Too
Fields also is a devout Christian. "Growing up, my dream was to one day play the game that I love at the highest level," he has said. "Now, thanks to God's grace and mercy, along with the help of you all, I am in a position to turn that dream into reality."
Despite his often sky-high on-field performances Fields remains down-to-earth. He does this in part by wearing wristbands that read "Humble Over Hype," referencing a nonprofit organization that seeks to create humility through the spiritual and moral development of athletes.
Managing a Neurological Disorder
Before entering the NFL, Fields let potential draft suitors know in 2021 that he manages an epileptic condition. He was diagnosed with the neurological disorder as a child. But his symptoms have lessened over time and it hasn't affected his pro career. Certainly it didn't scare the Bears away as they made him the 11th overall pick of the '21 draft.
Fish for Health
Pescatarianism is another of Fields' guiding principles but it has as much to do with his health as his spirit. Fields said **he became vegan before his last season at OSU** and stuck with it for 2½ years until he said it became too hard to order from restaurant menus. So in '23 he augmented his vegetarian dishes with fish and seafood. And, he admitted, "I might get me a little burger every now and then, but I just don't crave a steak."
One Bears social media wag took word of Fields' change of diet in stride, saying: "I don't care what his religion is, just win games."
Making His Pro Mark
Fields' pro game from three seasons with the Bears through last year with the Steelers has been a steady series of upward strides. He's improved his completion percentage and passer rating every season, and as the Bears' elusive field boss from 2021-23 he led all NFL QBs (including Lamar Jackson!) with a 6.24 yards/carry average.
His mobility has been the focus or at least a part of several NFL records he's set. Probably most noteworthy was his 178-yard ground game on Nov. 6, 2022, against Miami, which broke Michael Vick's 173-yard game for Atlanta in '02 for the most rush yards in an NFL regular-season game.
And then there was his game the very next week against Detroit, when he became the first pro player to rush for 100 yards and 2 touchdowns and throw for 2 more TDs in the same game. The Lions defense that day was of course coordinated by Aaron Glenn. Even though Detroit prevailed 31-30, no doubt AG remembered a little something about JF's game that afternoon.
Just Get the Ball in the End Zone ... and He Does
The bottom line for this piece: From his junior year in high school through last season with the Steelers, Fields' career touchdown totals are terrific. We've totaled up 219 touchdowns over nine seasons, 153 passing and 66 rushing and an average of 24.3 per season. We're confident he's got a whole bunch left in his TD bag now that he'll be wearing green and white.
Brothers in Arms
Many Buckeyes already populate NFL rosters, and a few former OSU teammates have no doubt already reached out to their new Jets teammate. WR Garrett Wilson and TE Jeremy Ruckert were the targets of a number of Fields passes when all three played together on the '19 and '20 OSU teams.
Wilson, in those two seasons and 22 games, caught 66 of his 72 passes from Fields, for 1,030 yards and 9 TDs. Ruckert, who played in 19 of those games, had 26 receptions for 286 yards and 8 TDs.
