Justin Fields refuses to take the bait on Steelers revenge game narrative

When the NFL schedule was released, it didn’t take long for fans and analysts to circle the New York Jets' Week 1 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The obvious headline was the potential for Aaron Rodgers to face his former team if he decides to return and sign with Pittsburgh.

But the more certain storyline centers on Justin Fields, who is set to open the season against the very team that benched him just months ago. You wouldn’t know it by listening to Fields, however.

The Ohio State product was asked by reporters on Thursday about facing his former team in his Jets debut this September, and he shrugged off any suggestion of added motivation.

"That’s who we play Week 1. There wasn’t really a thought to that."

Justin Fields

While the NFL likely leaned into the drama when scheduling the game, Fields seems determined to keep it business as usual. He downplayed any additional meaning to the Week 1 matchup.

Justin Fields rejects revenge talk before Week 1 showdown with Steelers

Fields may be treating Week 1 like just another game, but the context tells a different story. The former first-round pick signed a two-year, $40 million deal with the Jets this offseason after a turbulent one-year stop in Pittsburgh.

Fields was expected to compete for the starting job with Russell Wilson, but that competition ended quickly. He started just six games before being benched as soon as Wilson returned from a minor calf injury, despite showing flashes of promise in limited action.

That experience played a major role in Fields’ decision to head to New York. The Jets made it clear they were willing to give him a legitimate shot at being their starter.

Unlike the Steelers, who essentially used him as a backup insurance policy, the Jets committed to Fields early. Head coach Aaron Glenn publicly backed him as the team’s QB1 entering 2025, and his contract reflected that belief.

Fields will also be reunited with his former Ohio State teammate Garrett Wilson, among other ex-Buckeyes. The duo has never shared a field in the NFL, but their Ohio State connection is well-documented. If Fields is going to find success in New York, Wilson will be a big part of it.

The Week 1 showdown carries intrigue beyond Fields, too. The Steelers remain stuck in quarterback limbo, awaiting a decision from the aforementioned Aaron Rodgers. The former Jets quarterback hasn’t publicly committed to playing in 2025, but if he does return, Pittsburgh is viewed as the only realistic destination.

The league clearly had that possibility in mind when it scheduled Jets-Steelers to open the season. Fields vs. Pittsburgh is compelling. Fields vs. Pittsburgh and Rodgers vs. the Jets would be must-see television.

But for now, Fields isn’t leaning into the headlines. He’s focused on proving himself in Florham Park, not settling a score with the team that moved on.

Whether he admits it or not, Week 1 will say a lot. Not just about Fields’ progress, but about whether the Jets made the right call betting on a quarterback the Steelers never gave a real chance.

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