The Kansas City Chiefs will not have Patrick Mahomes as their starting quarterback when the 2026 NFL season begins. The three-time Super Bowl winner will still be recovering from a torn ACL. Additionally, Kansas City’s backup quarterback from last season, Gardner Minshew, signed with the Arizona Cardinals in free agency.
Therefore, the Chiefs entered the 2026 NFL off-season in search of a quarterback that can begin the year as their starter, but revert to a backup when Mahomes gets healthy.
There were many different veteran free agent names thrown around over the last few weeks, but Kansas City has finally found one via trade.
The Kansas City Chiefs get Justin Fields in a trade with the New York Jets
Kansas City Chiefs, Justin Fields, New York Jets
Dec 21, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields (7) during warm ups before the game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
On Monday morning, it was reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the Chiefs have acquired former first round pick Justin Fields in a trade with the New York Jets.
Trade: the New York Jets are finalizing a deal that will send QB Justin Fields to the Kansas City Chiefs, pending a physical, per ESPN sources. Other teams were interested, but Fields’ preference was to go to Kansas City. pic.twitter.com/HFgFODMi0r
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2026
Fields is now heading to his fourth team in four years after signing a two-year $40 million contract with New York last season. However, after he had a 62.7% completion percentage, 1,259 passing yards, seven touchdowns, one interception, and an 89.5 passer rating in nine games, the Jets decided to move on.
They previously landed their own former quarterback, Geno Smith, to be their starting quarterback in 2026.
In order to get Fields, the Chiefs are sending a 2027 sixth round pick to New York.
Was trading for Justin Fields the right move for the Kansas City Chiefs?
The big question now is whether or not Fields is the right answer for Kansas City. He will certainly get chances and reps while Mahomes is out, but there is a reason he is heading to his fourth team in four years.
He has also received a chance to start in each of his last four stops, and each time ended up losing the job.
That being said, there were not many options available to Kansas City. The fact of the matter is that most of the league’s best backups signed elsewhere, and they probably do not want to entrust a rookie to hold down the fort until Mahomes is healthy enough to play.
This all being said, the fact that the Chiefs only had to give up a sixth round pick next year in order to land Fields is a major win for the team. Since he is entering the last year of his contract, too, he is not a long-term commitment. And if he signs elsewhere in 2027 for more than the league average salary, Kansas City will get a 2028 comp pick back anyway.
It is not a flashy move, but it was the right move to make given where they are.
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