
Justin Fields Breaks Silence on Steelers Exit: Chooses Jets’ Vision Over Tomlin’s Turmoil
Justin Fields’ departure from the Pittsburgh Steelers following his benching by head coach Mike Tomlin became one of the more intriguing “what if” moments of the team’s 2024 season. However, the former Steelers quarterback has made it clear that there are no hard feelings. Speaking during a recent media session with the New York Jets, Fields maintained a professional tone, saying he respected Tomlin’s decision and understood it was made with the team’s best interest in mind.
“Coach Tomlin made a decision he thought was best for the team, and I’m never going to go against that,” Fields said. “That’s one thing I’ve learned over the years—not to take anything personal. At the end of the day, I was just excited about what the Jets had going on over here with [Aaron Glenn] and with the coaching staff.”
Although Fields avoided directly comparing the leadership styles of Tomlin and Glenn, his comments hint that the opportunity and vision presented by the Jets’ coaching staff played a key role in his choice to move on. For a young quarterback looking to revive and stabilize his NFL career, the environment in New York may have simply felt more aligned with his goals. Meanwhile, the Steelers’ coaching trio of Tomlin, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin continues to face scrutiny—not for their dominance, but for the disjointed direction of the team. Fields’ exit, then, may speak volumes about where Pittsburgh stands as a destination for developing talent.