The Chicago Bears have had an exciting NFL offseason so far as April comes to an end. Things around the Windy City will be quieter for a while now that the 2025 draft is over, leaving the Bears with just over a week before they begin this year's rookie minicamp.
The upcoming lull in action is the perfect opportunity to check in on how various ex-Bears' offseasons are unfolding, including former quarterback Justin Fields. Once Chicago's QB1, Fields continued his career by signing a two-year, $40 million contract with the New York Jets when free agency opened, leaving time to tell if he's finally found a permanent home.
Former Bears QB Justin Fields' Jets Teammate Jordan Travis Announces Retirement
Even though there's no telling how long he'll stay with the Jets, Fields has learned that he'll be spending the 2025 campaign with one less QB in the locker room.
On Wednesday, 24-year-old Jets quarterback Jordan Travis announced his NFL retirement on social media. The former 2024 fifth-round pick revealed that his surprise retirement stems from a season-ending leg injury he suffered during his final campaign at Florida State University.
"After much prayer and consultation with my doctors and medical team, I have been medically advised to retire from the game I love so deeply," Travis penned. "It is crazy how fast life can change. This is not the ending I had ever imagined, but I do trust the Lord's plan above all else."
It's always sad to see a promising player's NFL career end before it gets started, and Travis isn't an exception to that rule. The ACC Player of the Year was an exciting dual-threat throughout his Seminoles tenure, amassing 8,644 passing yards and 66 touchdowns (to 20 interceptions) along with 1,910 rushing yards and 31 TD scores on 409 carries across 46 outings.
Unfortunately, Travis' development came to a screeching halt when a controversial hip-drop tackle injured his leg during a November 2023 meeting with North Alabama. He ended up finishing fifth in Heisman Trophy voting that season, leaving fans to wonder what could've been had he never been hurt.
The Jets still had faith in a full recovery, hence why they spent a 2024 fifth-rounder on the ex-Seminole. Much to the team and the player's dismay, though, Travis never came close to returning to full health, forcing him to prematurely walk away from the sport.
With Travis retiring and Aaron Rodgers long gone, Fields sits atop a Jets QB depth chart that also features Tyrod Taylor and Adrian Martinez. New York also signed undrafted Missouri gunslinger Brady Cook, however, his presence doesn't change the fact that the Jets' QB1 job is the ex-Bears' to lose at this point.
Fields, 26, is coming off a mildly successful season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He led the Steelers to a 4-2 record across six starts while sharing duties with Russell Wilson, completing 106-of-161 passing attempts (65.8%) for 1,106 yards, five TDs to one INT, and a 93.3 passer rating.
As Fields continues fighting to prove he belongs, the Bears are more than happy with their QB situation now that Caleb Williams is leading the charge. The ex-2024 first-overall selection must continue his rise if he wants to help the Bears surpass next season's projected win total, which currently sits at 8.5 on FanDuel Sportsbook to begin May.
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