New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner raved about quarterback Justin Fields during a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. The All-Pro CB sees Aaron Rodgers-like traits in Fields.
“There’s only a certain amount of quarterbacks that can make [certain throws]. I’m talking about throws on, like, Aaron [Rodgers’] type of level. When it comes to being able to squeeze those throws in there, I always thought Aaron was the best when it came to that. And it’s like Justin had made a few throws where I’m like, ‘OK, he really been in the lab, for real.’ I could just tell,” Gardner said.
Fields, who played in Chicago for three years before spending last season with the Steelers, used to play Aaron Glenn’s Detroit Lions’ defensive unit twice a year in the NFC North. Glenn was the Lions defensive coordinator before being named the Jets head coach earlier this offseason. Fields revealed earlier this offseason that Glenn played a big part in why he signed with the Jets.
“I’m definitely super excited to just be here,” Fields said. “Meeting all of the new coaches and everybody around the building. Really just excited for a fresh start. We’re ready to get to work. So, super excited. I chose the Jets because No. 1, AG. The kind of coach he is, how passionate he is about the game, and really just what he brings to the table. Changing the culture around here and wanting to win games and wanting to be great. He knows what it takes to build a team up from the ground up and really get them going. I think that’s why AG is the right guy for the job.”
Gardner thinks Fields will take the Jets to new heights this season.
“We got a new dawg in town,” Gardner said. “We got Justin Fields. He a dawg.”
Gardner also revealed that the Jets changed their entire game plan last season when they played the Steelers once it was announced that Russell Wilson would be Pittsburgh’s starter.
“We didn’t know if Justin was going to play or not and who was going to be the starter,” Gardner recalled.
“We had to change the whole game plan for Justin, just for him to not even play that game, just for Russ to be the starter. So then we went back to the other game plan like the night before or something like that.
“I don’t know what disrespect [Justin] received, but in terms of the players and the teams, I feel like they always give him his respect that’s needed.”
"Justin Fields is a DAWG..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) July 2, 2025
He's been really dialed in and he was making some unbelievable throws at OTAs" @iamSauceGardner #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/1J582IA7xW
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported earlier this offseason that the Steelers offered Fields a contract similar to the Jets’ offer, but he chose the Jets over the Steelers.
“Look, last week or a week and a half ago, they put together an offer for Justin Fields that I was told was very competitive with what the Jets offered him, which was two years 40 million with 30 million guaranteed,” Fowler said on the Dan Patrick Show in March. “Something went off where he chose the Jets and he must have felt the love more from the Jets than he did the Steelers who essentially benched him last year for Russell Wilson. So he gets a fresh start. I do believe they were all in on Fields. I don’t know if they had Fields ahead of (Aaron) Rodgers, but they were willing to do Fields. Like both sides at one point were open to it. It didn’t work.”
According to NFL insider James Palmer, Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith really wanted Fields to stay in Pittsburgh.
“I will say this Arthur Smith really wanted [Fields] to stay in Pittsburgh,” Palmer said during a Bleacher Report Q&A Session. “He thought he could get him some playoff wins. That’s what Arthur Smith thought of Justin Fields.”
Fields reflected on his one season with the Steelers during his Jets introductory press conference. It was a tumultuous season for Fields, as he started off 4-2 as the team’s starter before being benched for the rest of the year in place of veteran Russell Wilson.
Fields handled the benching like a true professional, but it wasn’t easy for him.
“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,” Fields said, via Zach Rosenblatt of The Athletic. “I’m never going to go against that. I just tried to change my perspective and get better in practice.”
Fields threw for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and just one interception while leading the Steelers to a 4-2 start to the season. He also rushed for 231 yards and five touchdowns during the span.
Wilson, on the other hand, threw for 1,784 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions while going 6-1 before the team’s late-season collapse.
Despite the setback last season, Fields was grateful for his one year with the Steelers organization.
“I did what I was asked to do, and I’ve never had a problem with that. I’ve always been a team player, I’ve always been advocating on putting myself behind the team,” Fields said. “I’m not gonna get too much into depth on what happened in Chicago and what happened last year with Pittsburgh, but I’m grateful for all the experiences that I’ve had. I’ve met a lot of great people there, built a lot of great relationships that will last a lifetime. Of course the more time you have in the league, the more experience you have, so I think I’m progressing and getting better each and every year, so I’m excited to get things rolling this year.”
Justin Fields and the Jets will open against Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers at MetLife Stadium in Week 1. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Jets CB Raves About Justin Fields: ‘We Got a New Dawg in Town’
