Who else remembers when Justin Fields burst onto the Steelers scene like a breath of fresh air? He arrived in Pittsburgh with a lingering question mark over his head. As his failure in the Windy City was well-documented. Yet, when he stepped onto the field in black and gold, his aura transformed into something entirely different. After his struggles in the Windy City, Fields achieved a notable turnaround in Pittsburgh, which everyone noticed. Apart from fans, the former Detroit Lions’ defensive coordinator also noticed his success. Aaron Glenn didn’t waste much time as he arrived at the New York Jets to sign the young quarterback on a lucrative offer.  

Fields inked a whopping two-year deal worth $40 million, including $30 million guaranteed. It’s safe to assume that the new head coach, Aaron Glenn, has something to do with it. 

Now, with the new team decided and the contract finalized (and signed, might I add), there was a big decision that Fields had to make. Apparently, it was his Jersey Number. New York’s social media team shared a video of their new quarterback, where he stood before a whiteboard. And if you ask, what is he doing? He’s picking a number for himself. Translation? 

It turns out that the whiteboard contains a list of numbers. “Alright, so we got two options. Four is a solid one. I can see why guys went with four,” he said. Interestingly, Fields wasn’t alone there. Some of Pittsburgh’s employees accompanied him, and he considered their advice while selecting a jersey number, as he said, “Frank, Syd, Linds, Miranda, Karis, and Shant, you guys were correct, and I will be wearing number seven.” His choice to wear No. 7 for the Jets marks the beginning of a new chapter.

But it’s also the third time he has changed his jersey number. Previously in the Chicago Bears, he proudly wore No. 1, a number he had also worn in college at both Georgia and Ohio State. But given how his tenure went there, he moved on from that number. When he landed in Pittsburgh, he had to switch to No. 2 because the Steelers unofficially retired No. 1 and didn’t issue it.

However, as Fields is busy getting himself attuned with the new team, his fans from Pittsburgh are heartbroken.

Justin Fields left fans heartbroken

Although Fields’s move from Pittsburgh wasn’t completely unexpected, Steelers fans held onto a glimmer of hope of retaining him. However, the Steelers weren’t ready to match what the Jets, who parted ways with veteran Aaron Rodgers, offered him. As soon as the news broke, fans flooded the comment section of Fields’ Instagram post of his Dubai visit. This goodbye isn’t easy for them, but that’s the reality of the league, such as the NFL. 

Soon, this harsh reality will hit those fans even harder when he takes the field for New York in green. Some expressed disappointment, “Mann now we gotta choose between Russ and Rogers,” highlighting the uncertainty about the Steelers’ quarterback situation. Others were more emotional, asking, “Why did you leave us?” or welcoming him back with “if you change your mind about NY you’re welcome back to the Burgh anytime.” Why not? He had a good run with them, with a 4-2 record in 2024 in the six games he started, with career season-highs in completion percentage (66.3%) and passer rating (93.9).

Among the range of emotions expressed by the fans, some even wished he had stayed, writing, “We wish you should’ve stayed in Pittsburgh, bro.” Not just that, some even saw him as their MVP, as one commented, “Broke my heart seeing you leave Pittsburgh Bro, I hope you end up a league MVP. I KNOW you got the talent, integrity and work ethic! Omar & Mike T effed up BIGTIME!” These reactions reflect not just disappointment but a deeper concern about the team’s future at quarterback.

Fans wished him well for his future with the Jets as well. He will be replacing the veteran QB, Aaron Rodgers. The Gang Green has high expectations from their young quarterback.