For Justin Fields, Sunday’s win wasn’t just about football; it was about faith, perseverance, and finding peace in the middle of chaos.
The New York Jets broke a seven-game losing streak with a stunning 39–38 comeback win over the Cincinnati Bengals, scoring 23 points in the fourth quarter to seal their first victory of the season.
But behind the stat sheet, it was Fields’ emotional honesty after the game that told the real story.
I cannot begin to express how much I appreciate and respect Jets QB Justin Fields for opening up like this. Not an easy thing to do, and it’s 10x more challenging as a professional athlete:
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) October 26, 2025
“I'm going to get pretty vulnerable right here. This week I found myself in my closet… pic.twitter.com/jkaZpGNkgb
After being briefly benched in Week 7 and publicly criticized by Jets owner Woody Johnson, Fields entered the matchup against Cincinnati with something to prove, not to his critics, but to himself.
“I’ve been praying like crazy just for a win,” Fields said following the game. “I’m going to get pretty vulnerable right here. This week, I found myself in my closet crying on the ground, laying down. Not because of the hardships, not because of the troubles. I felt like I was built to handle that and I was put in a place to handle this situation. But in that moment when I was talking to my best friend how hard it was and just not wavering faith-wise.”
His openness gave a rare look into the mental and spiritual side of professional sports, the pressure, the self-doubt, and the internal fight to keep believing when everything feels like it’s unraveling.
Fields’ return to the lineup wasn’t guaranteed. Head coach Aaron Glenn had pulled him the week before and was noncommittal about who would start until a knee injury sidelined backup Tyrod Taylor. That opening was all Fields needed.
And he delivered. Completing 21 of 32 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown, along with 11 carries for 31 yards, Fields led a fourth-quarter surge that reignited not just the Jets’ offense, but their entire season.
“When I was on the field, I was damn near about to start crying,” he said. “Not because we won, but just because of the greatness of God and just how everything works for the greater good, everything that I’ve been through this past week, everything that we’ve been through as a team these past seven weeks.”
He described receiving an unexpected text from his sister and stepmother during one of his lowest moments, encouraging him to keep going.
“They sent me a link on social media,” Fields said. “And I tell you guys all the time that I’m not on social media, so I didn’t see it. So that was just a sign from God for me to keep going and that I’m in the right place.”
Fields’ faith has always been part of his foundation, but this week tested it in ways that few could see.
“It’s been a lot for me emotionally, spiritually,” he admitted. “I got a lot of support from my teammates, from my brothers, from my family, from my friends. Most of all, I’m just thankful.”
Congratulations, Justin!
