Andy Reid sees something no one with the Jets did.
Add the Chiefs’ head coach to the list of people who haven’t given up on Justin Fields as a starting quarterback in the NFL, though Reid is by far the most accomplished coach who has ever tried to pull the best out of him.
“He’s more than a gadget guy. That’s not how I’m looking at him. That’s not why we brought him in,” Reid told The Athletic. “We brought him in to play quarterback if he’s needed to play quarterback. And then whatever goes from there.”
The Chiefs traded a late-round draft pick swap with the Jets for Fields in March as Patrick Mahomes recovers from an ACL injury and may not be ready for the start of the season.
Fields was mostly a disaster with the Jets, but has shown some signs of life in his career, mostly with the Bears during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, where he combined for 47 touchdowns (12 rushing) and 20 interceptions.
After signing a two-year, $40 million deal, Fields started just nine games for the Jets last season and was unable to lead a competent offense for most of that time.
It was a low-risk trade for the Chiefs, given the minimal compensation, still many questioned why they brought him in the door with Mahomes looking likely to play this season.
Though it appears the Chiefs want someone with legitimate success as a starter to back up Mahomes, as Gardner Minshew struggled in 2025 with Kansas City.
Minshew had zero touchdown passes and one interception with just 37 yards passing in an injury-shortened season for the Chiefs.
Minshew, who signed with the Cardinals this offseason, hurt his left knee in Week 16 and the Chiefs were forced to play Chris Oladokun and Shane Buechele at quarterback to close out the season.
