Struggling Ex-Steelers star cannot shake lingering career blemish

Let’s face it — the NFL is tougher than we make it. It’s easy to expect our favorite gridiron stars to perform miracles while we sit comfortably on the couch, shouting at the TV. That’s what being a fan is all about. We expect greatness, we crave victories, and we demand consistency from our players. But for some, success in this league doesn’t come easy. Just ask former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields.

His stint under Mike Tomlin started with promise. In 2024, Fields led the Steelers to a 4-2 start, and for a brief moment, it felt like Pittsburgh had found a new chapter at quarterback. He was exciting, athletic, and dynamic — everything fans hoped for.

But just as quickly as his rise began, it was over. Arthur Smith and his staff decided to make a midseason switch, inserting veteran Russell Wilson into the starting lineup.

That decision ended Fields’ time in Pittsburgh, and ever since, he’s been looking for a true home.

When the New York Jets hired rookie head coach Aaron Glenn this past offseason, Fields saw it as an opportunity for a fresh start. On paper, it made sense. A new staff, a clean slate, and an organization desperate for stability at quarterback. But the NFL is a results-driven business, and so far, the results have been hard to come by.

The Jets are the only winless team in the league heading into Week 6. And yet, surprisingly, it’s hard to place the blame on Fields. Through four games (he missed a start due to injury), he’s thrown for 754 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions, ranking first in the NFL in turnover avoidance. Add in his 204 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground, and you’ve got a dual-threat quarterback still capable of making plays.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are lucky they avoided a Justin Fields nightmare

So, why isn’t Justin Fields winning?

In truth, Fields isn’t playing poorly — he’s playing safe. His conservative approach has minimized mistakes but also capped offensive production. Those extra seconds of hesitation, that one too many reads, or a late release — they add up. In a league where windows close in milliseconds, every extra beat matters.

It’s also not just on Fields. The Jets’ offensive line has been shaky, and their receiving corps hasn’t helped much either. When the supporting cast struggles to execute, it’s nearly impossible for any quarterback — let alone one still finding his rhythm — to succeed.

That’s been the story of Justin Fields’ career. Despite flashes of brilliance, he’s never been in the right situation at the right time. His record as a starter — 14-34 — tells that story plainly. He’s progressed, no question about it. His mechanics are cleaner, his decision-making is sharper, and his leadership continues to grow. But is it enough to make him a franchise quarterback on a winning team?

That answer remains uncertain.

For the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Fields experiment is long behind them. They’ve moved forward with stability and veteran presence under center in Aaron Rodgers. But as for Justin Fields, the journey continues — another year, another fresh start, and another reminder that sometimes talent alone isn’t enough.

The NFL doesn’t just test your arm or your legs — it tests your patience, your adaptability, and your resilience. And for Justin Fields, that test is still ongoing.

San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Brock Purdy Is Not Worried About Mac Jones Taking His Job

Brock Purdy warms up before an NFL Preseason game between the Chargers and 49ers on August 23, 2025.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones had had a hot start to the 2025 season filling in for injured starter Brock Purdy which has led to a lot of chatter around the football world about if there is a quarterback controversy in San Francisco.

But according to 49ers general manager John Lynch, that chatter is not bothering Purdy one bit.

Lynch on any potential tension in the quarterback room:

"A cool quality about Brock Purdy is he's one of the most self assured, humble people. It's one of the things that appealed to us… I think we all feel fortunate that we found a backup who can go in and play like a… pic.twitter.com/LHByyFymwk

— KNBR (@KNBR) October 9, 2025

“A cool quality about Brock Purdy is he is one of the most self assured, humble people,” Lynch said on KNBR’s Murph and Markus show on Thursday October 9. “It’s one of the things that appealed to us…I think we all feel fortunate that we found a backup who can go in and play like a starter and earn us tough hard fought wins.”

In that one quote, Lynch simultaneously reassured 49ers fans that the organization still clearly views Purdy as the starter and Jones as the backup, and said that even if there turns out to be a QB controversy in SF, he expects Purdy to be nothing but the most supportive and professional guy in the locker room.

Regardless of how you feel about the 49ers quarterback situation and how it plays out from here on out, Purdy’s humility is great for team culture.

Purdy’s Humility Has To Do With His Christian Faith

Being self confident and team first is hard to do when it feels like the whole world believes you should lose your job.

And yet, Lynch said that Purdy has remained that way. How is that possible?

If the past is any indication, Purdy’s Christian Faith is likely what is behind his ability to have a good mindset amidst this situation.

Purdy leaned on his faith when the 49ers drafted him last in the 2022 NFL draft, giving him the title of Mr. Irrelevant, which is something that he talked about with legendary college football quarterback Tim Tebow on a podcast back in 2024.

“So grateful for that, being drafted last, and for [God] to be able to choose me to have this kind of story,” Purdy said. “For my glory? No, for His glory. So that’s what brings me joy.”

It seems like no matter what happens to Purdy, he is going to approach his new situation with humility and gratitude.

Mac Jones Has Also Been Humble, Supportive Of Purdy

The humility of the San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback room is a culture that goes beyond just Purdy.

Mac Jones has downplayed the idea of a QB controversy several times in his public comments.

Even after Jones and the 49ers’ most recent win against the Los Angeles Rams, a game in which Jones played the best football in his career and had every reason to feel full of himself, Jones strongly reiterated that he sees himself as the backup QB.

“They brought me here to be a backup,” Jones said. “That’s my job. Brock is the starter of this team. Right now he’s dealing with something, and for him to go out there last week and play, when you know he probably wasn’t at full health, he cares about this team.”

Mac Jones was asked if he views himself as the starting QB going forward:

"Brock's the starter of this team … I'm just trying to get some wins for him so it helps us down the line."

He has also said in recent weeks that he and Brock are good friends, a relationship that started before the two even played together on the 49ers.

“Brock’s one of my best friends and I want him back out there,” Jones said.

49ers fans could learn a great deal from the public comments of Mac Jones and Brock Purdy, and just support both guys and root for them both to have success and the highest possible level.

Because they’ll certainly cheer one another on.

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