The Pittsburgh Steelers made headlines by signing former Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson to a one-year deal, causing a stir of excitement among fans. Despite the shake-up in the quarterback room with the departure of Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph, the Steelers see this move as a low-risk, high-reward opportunity. Wilson's acquisition came at a steal, with the Steelers securing the nine-time Pro Bowler and former Super Bowl champion for the veteran minimum, thanks to the Broncos footing most of the bill.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin shakes hands with Russell Wilson after a game.
This acquisition not only adds considerable talent to the team, but also brings seasoned leadership. Mike Tomlin, the Steelers' head coach, lauded Wilson's preparedness during their initial meetings. However, Tomlin's admiration extends to another quarterback in the mix: Justin Fields, whom the Steelers traded for. While the quarterback room has undoubtedly strengthened, there's an adage that suggests having two quarterbacks means having none.
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Former Bears' QB Justin Fields runs onto Lambeau Field for a game against the Packers.
Despite the optimism surrounding the Steelers' quarterback lineup, not everyone shares the same sentiment. Mike Garafolo, from NFL Network, expressed skepticism about the Steelers' quarterback strategy during a recent appearance on Jason Puckett's YouTube Channel, highlighting a sense of confusion regarding the team's plans.
"I like Justin Fields, to a certain extent, and I'd be okay with him in certain scenarios where you've got an established starter and somebody he can learn from, but like, what's he gonna learn from Russ? You've got two incomplete guys that you're trying to shoehorn in here. I don't get the plan," Garafolo said to Puckett. "I don't think it works incredibly well with what Arthur Smith wants to do offensively. I don't know what the he** the plan is, and this is one of those where, well, it's the Steelers and they're gonna find a way to go 9-8. I'm not so sure this time around. This might be my stop, folks."
Throughout Tomlin's 17-season tenure as head coach, the Steelers have maintained an impressive record of never enduring a losing season. Every year, they've clinched winning regular seasons, a remarkable feat in the NFL. However, Garafolo believes that if there were ever a season for this streak to be challenged, it would be the current one, largely due to the addition of Wilson to the team.
"He's not the kind of guy that I want to be the mentor either. Sean Payton was livid last year with the way Russ was running the offense, or lack of running the offense.”
Despite the Broncos' challenges in securing victories with Wilson as their quarterback, Wilson's individual performance in 2023 remained noteworthy. Despite the team's struggles, he threw 26 touchdowns and just eight interceptions before being benched. The decision to bench him stemmed from the team's desire for Wilson to restructure his contract, a proposition he declined.
It's worth noting that the relationship between Wilson and Broncos' Sean Payton was strained, casting doubt on any perspective offered by Payton regarding Wilson. Nevertheless, Garafolo remains wary, expressing his concerns about Wilson's impact.
"He's made it this far in his career. He knows how to play the quarterback position, but he doesn't strike me as the kind of guy that I'm like, 'Boy, show him all the ways of doing things in the NFL.' That's not Russ to me. I don't get it. I don't get the whole thing."
Steelers' Russell Wilson Is Excited To Have Justin Fields As His Teammate
Despite Garafolo's perspective, when news spread of the Steelers trading for Fields, Wilson took to his social media platform to welcome Fields and proclaimed that the quarterback room would be electrifying. With this dynamic, the Steelers' quarterback situation is poised to be intriguing.
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Steelers' quarterback's Russell Wilson and Justin Fields meet on the field following a 2023 matchup.
Presently, Tomlin has indicated that Wilson holds the leading position to become the starter, a decision he deems fitting for the team. However, he hasn't dismissed the possibility of Fields having an equal opportunity to compete for and secure the starting role. Steelers fans are eagerly anticipating the competition between the new quarterbacks and are eager to see them in action in Pittsburgh.
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