Chiefs give Justin Fields repeatable path from Jets QB to Super Bowl champion

The early career arc of Justin Fields hasn't been what he would've drawn up. But there's still time.

From the Chicago Bears to the Pittsburgh Steelers to the New York Jets, starting jobs didn't work out. Now he goes to the Kansas City Chiefs in a trade, and aside from potentially filling in for an injured Patrick Mahomes in the early going, he's a surefire backup.

There's a path that has been traveled that he can try to follow, though.

Sam Darnold didn't make it with the New York Jets, then bounced to the Carolina Panthers before landing with the San Francisco 49ers. Darnold learned under Kyle Shanahan as a backup, then thrived with the Minnesota Vikings before leading the Seattle Seahawks to the Super Bowl.

Fields can try to replicate that.

"This is an opportunity for him... to pursue the Sam Darnold path," ESPN's Mina Kimes said on Monday on NFL Live.

MORE: Why the Kansas City Chiefs traded for Justin Fields

Darnold is not the only QB in recent memory to thrive after leaving the Jets for a better situation. Geno Smith did similarly, also reaching his career peak in Seattle -- ironically, he'll be the Jets' replacement for Fields after they acquired him from the Raiders.

Across the NFL, there are more and more examples of QBs who didn't fit in their first stop, or maybe even multiple, before eventually showing resilience and talent can combine to work out in the right place.

Daniel Jones has done it in Indianapolis. Baker Mayfield has done it in Tampa Bay.

Fields will likely have to use Kansas City as a springboard, because Mahomes isn't going anywhere. But if he learns enough and grows enough, Fields might still have a bright NFL future in front of him.

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