History of Justin Fields in Timeline

Justin Fields is an American professional football quarterback currently playing for the New York Jets in the NFL. He began his college career with the Georgia Bulldogs before transferring to Ohio State, where he excelled. As a Buckeye, Fields was a two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and led the team to the 2021 National Championship Game.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

March 5, 1999: Justin Fields' Birth

On March 5, 1999, Justin Skyler Fields was born. He would grow up to become an American professional football quarterback.

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2016: Started Losing Streak

In 2016, the Bears began a losing streak. With the loss to the Chiefs, the Bears started 0-3 for the first time since 2016.

October 2017: Committed to University of Georgia

In October 2017, Justin Fields committed to the University of Georgia to play college football after withdrawing a previous commitment to Penn State.

2017: Started Losing Streak

In 2017, the Bears began a losing streak. With the loss to the Buccaneers, the Bears started 0-2 for the first time since 2017.

2017: Named Elite 11 MVP

In the summer before his senior year, Justin Fields attended the Elite 11 quarterback competition in 2017 and was named MVP of the event.

2018: Transfer Circumstances

During the 2018 season, Justin Fields experienced an incident at Georgia involving a racial slur, which influenced his decision to transfer to Ohio State. This incident was cited as a "mitigating circumstance" in his waiver request for immediate eligibility.

2018: Announced Transfer to Ohio State

Following Georgia's loss to Alabama in the 2018 SEC Championship Game, Justin Fields announced his intent to transfer to Ohio State.

2018: Freshman Season at Georgia

In 2018, Justin Fields played his true freshman season at Georgia as the backup to Jake Fromm. He made his debut in the season opener against Austin Peay and later had notable performances against Tennessee and UMass.

2018: Documented in Netflix Series

In 2018, Justin Fields' senior year was documented in the second season of the Netflix series QB1: Beyond the Lights.

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February 8, 2019: Granted Immediate Eligibility by NCAA

On February 8, 2019, Justin Fields was granted immediate eligibility for the 2019 season by the NCAA after seeking a waiver due to mitigating circumstances surrounding his transfer from Georgia.

2019: First Season with Ohio State

In 2019, Justin Fields led Ohio State to a Big Ten Championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff. He finished third in the Heisman Trophy race and was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.

2020: Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic

In 2020, Justin Fields entered the season as a leading Heisman Trophy candidate and was vocal in his support of playing the season amid the COVID-19 pandemic, starting an online petition in support of that goal.

2020: Another Big Ten Championship

In 2020, Justin Fields led the Buckeyes to another undefeated regular season and Big Ten Championship. They advanced to the College Football Playoff National Championship, where they lost to Alabama.

January 18, 2021: Declared for NFL Draft

On January 18, 2021, Justin Fields announced that he would forgo his final two years of eligibility to enter the 2021 NFL draft.

June 10, 2021: Signed Rookie Contract with Bears

On June 10, 2021, Justin Fields signed his four-year rookie contract with the Chicago Bears, worth $18.8 million fully guaranteed.

2021: National Championship Game Appearance

In 2021, Justin Fields played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes and appeared in the National Championship Game.

2021: Drafted by Chicago Bears

In 2021, Justin Fields was selected in the first round of the NFL draft by the Chicago Bears.

2021: Epilepsy Diagnosis Made Public

In 2021, during pre-draft interviews with NFL teams, Justin Fields's epilepsy diagnosis, which he received as a freshman in high school, was made public.

2022: Injuries and Season's End

During the 2022 season, Justin Fields suffered a shoulder injury, returned to rush for a touchdown in six consecutive games, and then suffered a hip injury, leading to the Bears finishing with a league-worst 3–14 record.

2022: Bears Trade

In 2022, the Chicago Bears traded up with the New York Giants in exchange for the 20th overall pick, their fifth-round pick in 2021, and their first and fourth-round picks in 2022.

May 2023: Graduation from Ohio State

In May 2023, Justin Fields graduated from Ohio State with a degree in consumer and family financial services, marking an important milestone in his education.

2023: NFL Top 100 Ranking

In 2023, Justin Fields was ranked 86th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players list. He finished his second year with 1,143 rushing yards.

2023: 2023 Season

Justin Fields' 2023 season began with a loss against the Packers. The Bears then lost to the Buccaneers and the Chiefs, with Fields suffering a head injury in the latter game but not missing any plays.

March 16, 2024: Traded to the Steelers

On March 16, 2024, Justin Fields was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a conditional draft pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

October 15, 2024: Demoted to Backup Quarterback

On October 15, 2024, Justin Fields was demoted to backup quarterback duties for the Steelers as Wilson's calf injury had healed.

2024: Traded to Pittsburgh Steelers

In 2024, Justin Fields was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers after playing three seasons with the Chicago Bears.

2024: Played in multiple "package plays" for the Steelers

In 2024, Justin Fields was utilized in multiple "package plays" for the Steelers, often involving quarterback sneaks and short passes to convert on third and fourth downs. He finished the season with a 65% pass completion rate, 1,106 yards, 10 touchdowns, and one interception, appearing in 10 games, starting in six. He also appeared in two package plays during the Steelers' loss to the Baltimore Ravens, handing off the ball and throwing an incomplete pass.