With $15 million on the table. One mysterious Instagram picture and a teammate drops a money joke in the comments. And floating behind it all? Drake’s ‘Raining in Houston‘ playing like the heartfelt background music for a departure that no one anticipated. Welcome to the Steelers offseason, where locker room humor, sub-tweet energy, and contract stress all come together to create a mood more perplexing than your ex sending you a text that says: I hope you’re doing well.

Justin Fields, the quarterback for the New York Jets, posted an Instagram photo that felt more like a Nike commercial for closure than a highlight reel of his workouts. Just days after the Steelers attempted to push a two-year, $30 million offer—of which only $15 million was guaranteed—through his door. The IG post shows Fields performing machine squats as if he were getting ready to shoulder the Jets’ postseason chances. There’s a mirror selfie because QB1’s gotta QB1. Then a field shot, him mid-throw, reminding us that the arm still works just fine. And for the casual cherry, a clip of him bowling with friends, because even in offseason turbulence, the man stays striking.

The caption? “One step closer.” The vibe? Eerily motivational. The soundtrack? Drake’s Raining in Houston—because if Heartbreak had a theme song for NFL exits, that’d be it. But it wasn’t the workout or the caption that got everyone talking. It was a comment—deadpan hilarious and oddly telling—dropped right underneath by former Steelers teammate Deshon Elliott: “Tell Mario send me my money!!!” That’s bang on.

Let’s face it, Elliott most likely wasn’t using Instagram to send bills. This has nothing to do with withholding bonuses or missed checks. It was a light-hearted remark, humour from the locker room leaking onto the grid. However, the timing? Perfect. Here’s Justin Fields making his very public pivot to a new team, subtly flexing the glow-up—and Elliott’s comment? It was humorous but also loaded. Because what started as a joke sat squarely on top of a very real mess.

Here’s what went down: The Jets handed Fields a clean, digestible two-year, $40 million deal—with $30 million guaranteed. That includes a fat $15 million signing bonus and a $5 million guaranteed base salary in 2025, followed by a $20 million base salary in 2026, half of which is guaranteed. The Steelers? Their final offer came in at two years, $30 million—and, according to every report circling the Allegheny, just $15 million guaranteed. In other words, the difference wasn’t in the numbers on paper—it was in the trust.

Yes, the total package was only $5 million per season apart, but in guaranteed money? Half was being offered by the Steelers. Pittsburgh made Justin Fields a priority, wanted him back, and said all the right things. However, they offered him the kind of deal you give someone and hope they decline when it came time to commit. And that’s what he did, declined. Now, Fields is in New York, the new QB project for a franchise that knows quarterback dysfunction all too well.

Although it could appear like Fields left for financial gain, that is just half the truth. This story delves deeper into politics, public support, subtle shade, and benching. Because there was more to the Pittsburgh incident last season than just a quarterback dispute. It was the downfall of a man who at last had promise but was nevertheless benched like a rookie who had forgotten his playbook.

When he spoke about his previous experience, he summed it up with another subtly spicy quote: “I did what I was asked to do. I’ve never had a problem with that. I’m progressing and getting better each and every year.” For a guy who was mismanaged in Chicago and then ghosted in Pittsburgh, that line reads less like humility and more like a public diary entry with a professional smile.

Justin Fields’s quiet exit, the loud echo—And Tomlin in the crosshairs

But hold on, it gets spicier. Because it was Fields who was stealthily throwing a grenade towards Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh’s crown gem, while he was out here posting pictures of peace, squats, and Drake vibes.

When asked about the benching during his Jets press conference, Fields didn’t take shots. He didn’t stir the pot. He just nodded and gave a line straight out of the Diplomatic Handbook for Disrespected Quarterbacks: “It was different for me and a space I wasn’t really comfortable. But Coach Tomlin made a decision he thought was best for the team. I’m never going to go against that. I just tried to change my perspective and get better in practice.” Translation? I’m not going to torch the bridge, but you know I don’t agree with how that went down.

And Fields dismissed the question of whether it affected his decision to join the Jets, saying, “Not really…You can’t take things personally. At the end of the day, I was just excited about what the #Jets had going on here. It didn’t have anything to do with Pittsburgh but the opportunity I had here to make an impact.” Translation again? This isn’t revenge—this is an upgrade.

For that reason, the Fields situation feels more significant than just a dispute about a contract. It’s not just about money. It has to do with direction. Identity. Trust. Fields ignited the Steelers. And they offered him the kind of deal you make when you’re not quite sure if the guy sitting in front of you is your future or not.

Now? Fields is in New York. Elliott’s joking about overdue payments on social media. And rival quarterbacks? They are out here casually dragging Tomlin without naming him. The Steelers wanted a budget QB. What they got instead was a public exit, a meme-worthy comment, and a potential legacy question around their most respected figure.