The Pittsburgh Steelers locker room has made it clear who their leader is ahead of the 2024 regular season. The Steelers came into training camp with a quarterback battle between Justin Fields and Russell Wilson.
Wilson missed the beginning of camp as the veteran quarterback battled a calf injury. Fields was unable to win the starting job after getting a head start on Wilson this summer at camp. Last week, Tomlin officially named Wilson as the Steelers starting quarterback.
Tomlin did leave open the possibility that the Steelers could use Fields in certain offensive packages that highlight his speed.
Per the Steelers website, the locker room backed Tomlin’s decision to start Wilson. Players voted for Wilson to be one of the team’s captains for the 2024 season because of the leadership he can bring to the Steelers:
Coach Mike Tomlin has always preached the importance of leadership in the locker room, and over the years the Steelers have not lacked in that area.
That is the case once again this year, where the team has a group of leaders who guide others in their own individual ways, whether it’s leading by example with their actions or being a vocal leader who knows how to handle each individual situation.
They are the ones who make sure the Standard is the Standard, a value that has been instilled in all.
This year the Steelers selected their 2024 team captains based on those standards. They are players coaches can depend on. They are players teammates can depend on. And they are players who uphold what being a Steelers player is all about.
Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, linebacker T.J. Watt, and safety Miles Killebrew were also voted as team captains for the season.
Mike Tomlin has another consideration before starting Justin Fields
The team’s decision to make Wilson a captain makes any decision by Tomlin to bench Wilson for Fields later in the season a tad bit more difficult. Some analysts think Fields has a chance to become the starter if Wilson starts slow this season.
Tomlin decided to bench Kenny Pickett last year after he was named a team captain for the 2023 season. Tomlin could make that decision again with Wilson. However, Wilson’s status in the locker room might have to change before that happens.
Before the season, at least, the locker room views Wilson as a leader. If the Steelers lose too many games early in the season, the locker room might want a new leader.
For now, it’s Wilson’s team.
