The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a revolving door in their quarterback room since Ben Roethlisberger retired. When they drafted Kenny Pickett, they hoped to find their next face of the franchise, but it didn't work out. That led them to add two very different veterans to the roster for the 2024 season: Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. They both had opportunities to start during the regular season, and now, Pittsburgh has to decide how it wants to move forward.
Head Coach Mike Tomlin has played it cool when asked about the team's plan. Both quarterbacks are free agents, as they were only in Pittsburgh on one-year contracts. They could keep one, both, or neither, although many think keeping both is unlikely.
During his recent press conference, Tomlin did say that he believes Fields has what it takes to be a starting quarterback. He applauded how he worked hard at improving and continued to grow during the time he played. However, many believe Fields wants to get paid and be a starter, and if that won't happen in Pittsburgh, he will move on. Steelers sideline reporter and native Yinzer Missi Matthews told Randy Baumann and the DVE Morning Show on 102.5 WDVE that she can see a world where Fields wants to return to Pittsburgh for some unexpected reasons.
"This was a guy who was on his third different offensive coordinator; head coaches were like in and out of doors in Chicago, just so much change," said Matthews. "No stability. Then you finally come to Pittsburgh, and you get stability, and you're working with professionals that have your best interests at heart. You saw what he was able to do when he took advantage of Russell Wilson getting hurt before the first day of training camp practice. Then having a 4-2 record when called upon. I've never heard a bad word said about him in terms of being a leader, being prepared, what he's like in meetings, in classroom work, what coaches think of him. Maybe that is something where it is enticing for him to not go chase money, but chase a place where he can grow and try to turn his career around."
She isn't wrong about Fields' experience with the Chicago Bears. They drafted him 11th overall in 2021 because of his remarkable athletic ability. Some feel he wasn't appropriately coached in Chicago. Whether it was the constant turnover in the coaching staff, or the rumors that he had to play to lose, some feel he was disrespected. He does have his limitations, including his pocket presence and decision-making skills. He has the mobility most teams want in a quarterback in today's NFL, but needs to elevate his accuracy.
Both quarterbacks were applauded for their leadership on and off the field. There was talk of unrest at the facility over the switch. Some players believed Fields should have kept the starting job, and others wanted the most decorated quarterback. The offseason is already shaping up to be intriguing, with the numerous free agents and decisions to be made.
Many assume that Pittsburgh will try to work something out with Wilson. Tomlin saw him as the better option, especially knowing this young offense desperately needed a vocal leader. The thought is that Wilson would sign a reasonable contract to stay as a bridge quarterback for a couple of years. While it is unlikely to take the veteran minimum again, there is a thought that at this point in his career, he wants another Super Bowl over money and will see Pittsburgh as his best shot.
Matthews said she doesn't see it as a guarantee. While she isn't as critical of Wilson as others, she thinks this is a crucial juncture for the Steelers. Given that Pittsburgh had so many new starting quarterbacks over the past few years and still ended with the same results, they cannot afford to leave any stone unturned.
