'Madden NFL 25' Trailer Shows Justin Fields Returning Kickoffs For Steelers

Last month, a rumor circulated that the Pittsburgh Steelers planned to use newly-acquired quarterback Justin Fields as a kickoff return specialist. While that rumor turned out to be untrue, the folks over at EA Sports decided to have a little fun with it anyway in the new trailer for Madden NFL 25.

The trailer, released last Thursday, opens with Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins teeing the ball up and kicking off to Fields.

Take a look.

The Steelers acquired Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears in exchange for a conditional 2025 sixth-round draft pick in March. A first-round pick in 2021, he's expected to serve as the backup to quarterback Russell Wilson, whom the Steelers also acquired this off-season.

Why Would Justin Fields Be Returning Kickoffs?

This whole thing all started when Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren appeared on Cam Heyward's Not Just Football podcast. During the interview, Warren said he'd be open to fielding kick returns this season, but special teams coordinator Danny Smith mentioned Fields might be filling that role.

"I think it's pretty cool," Warren said. "But our special teams coordinator was talking about Justin Fields being back there. We looked at him like, 'Justin Fields is going to be back there?' I don't know, I think it's cool."

But the Steelers quickly shut it down. According to Steel Curtain Network's Jeff Hartman, a source inside Pittsburgh's building called the idea of Fields returning kickoffs "preposterous," saying it would never happen.

"They went on to say it's 'complete f'ing horse crap'," Hartman said.

Russell Wilson and Justin Fields at Steelers minicamp.

(Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Fields, too, rebuked the idea.

"Nah, I’m not here to do that," the QB said, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "It was kind of a joke, to be honest with you."

Apparently, Smith did bring it up in a meeting, though.

"I think everybody kind of interpreted it wrong," Fields said. "Coach Danny was basically just trying to send a message that no matter who you are, you could be on special teams. He just used that as an example.

"It’s funny how serious social media takes everything. It was kind of funny to me when everybody was making a big deal about it for no reason."

Uh, yeah. Justin, have you met the Internet? That's kind of what happens here.