Steelers Found Guilty Of Making A Mistake With Justin Fields

The Pittsburgh Steelers' offense struggled heavily during the 2023 season, primarily due to inconsistent quarterback play. In response, Pittsburgh cleaned house this offseason, parting ways with every quarterback who saw game action in 2023.

In a significant move, the Steelers signed nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson to a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum. They also traded with the Chicago Bears to acquire quarterback Justin Fields. Both quarterbacks will compete for the starting job, but it appears Wilson is poised to start in Week 1.

However, a lot can change during training camp, and Fields will have a chance to compete for the starting role. Former quarterback and now NFL analyst Chase Daniel shared his thoughts on Fields during the Scoop City: A Show About the NFL podcast.

"I love him, and if you just go purely on the film based on last year, he was playing at a really high level before he got hurt and then missed some games, and then [returned and] played at a really high level," Daniel said. “Which made Ryan Poles, the GM of Chicago, his entire process a lot more difficult than a lot of people probably thought by going and drafting Caleb Williams, trading Justin Fields.”

Daniel leverages his nearly two decades of experience as a high-level quarterback to analyze game film. During the 2023 season, Fields started 13 games, winning only five. He threw for 2,562 yards, completing 61.4% of his passes, with 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Fields is also one of the most dangerous running quarterbacks in the league. In 2023, he carried the football 124 times for 657 rushing yards and scored four touchdowns. While Fields' production and win total were not particularly impressive, Daniel believes his performance made it difficult for Bears General Manager Ryan Poles to move on from him.

Ultimately, Poles decided to draft Caleb Williams, marking the end of the Fields era in Chicago. Many Bears fans were sad to see Fields go, despite him winning just 10 games during his three seasons. Daniel thinks the Steelers are making a big mistake by giving Wilson the starting job over Fields.

"I just thought he really played well down the stretch, and I was very, very loud about it on all my social media last year. I know Chicago people loved it. I just don't get why they're handing the keys to the car to Russell Wilson after that disastrous stint with Sean Payton in Denver."

Wilson joined the Denver Broncos with high hopes from fans, who believed he could lead them to a Super Bowl. Instead, he managed to win just 11 games over two seasons. In 2023, Wilson threw for 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions, doubling the combined output of the Steelers' quarterbacks that year. Despite this, Daniel doesn't understand why the Steelers are favoring Wilson.

"I think on the field, he's a top-20 quarterback in the NFL," Daniel said talking about Fields.

The truth is, that Wilson is getting the starting job primarily because of his impressive resume. He has played in Super Bowls, won one, and consistently produced in big moments over his decade-long career. While Fields has shown flashes of potential, he has yet to establish consistency.

Steelers Feel Confident That Russell Wilson Can Help Them Win Games In 2024

Currently, the NFL views Fields as a backup, despite his tremendous talent and immense potential. In contrast, Wilson is seen as a proven leader, which is highly valued by Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin. 

Wilson's experience and leadership are key factors in the Steelers' decision. Despite his recent struggles in Denver, Wilson had a solid statistical year in 2023. The Steelers believe that with a more complete team in Pittsburgh, he can convert his production into wins.

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