This shouldn't be a surprise at all.
The Jets will likely draft a quarterback in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, which means Justin Fields will probably only spend one season in New York.
According to NFL insider Bill Barnwell of ESPN, the Jets will "most likely" release Fields this offseason.
Fields signed a two-year, $40 million deal with New York in the offseason after playing for the Steelers last season.
"The Jets essentially guaranteed half of what Fields is owed next season as part of the deal he signed with them this season," Barnwell wrote. "Gang Green is already on the hook for $10 million of Fields' $20 million base salary. The most likely scenario is the Jets release Fields over the winter, saving themselves the additional $10 million he would be owed in 2027."
Fields has not played well this season. He enters Week 11 against the Patriots with only 1,143 passing yards and six passing touchdowns.
The Ohio State product is 30th in QBR (quarterback rating). He has a QBR of only 35.6.
"Barring a stunning second half, the Jets aren't going to be thinking about Fields as their starter in 2026," Barnwell wrote. "General manager Darren Mougey amassed a war chest of draft picks after trading Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner at the trade deadline, and the first priority for those selections has to be finding a long-term solution at quarterback.
"Fields also doesn't make for an ideal backup for most organizations, given that his best fit in an NFL offense is operating within a QB run game-heavy approach, something teams won't spend much time installing unless they plan to use it with their starter."
If the Jets release Fields, he will become a free agent and be free to sign with any team. There likely won't be any teams interested in signing the former Bears QB to be their starter.
However, Fields could be signed to be a team's backup or redzone QB. After all, he is a talented runner.
With the Bears, Steelers and Jets, Fields has 2,825 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns. The Kennesaw native turns 27 in March.