Russell Wilson Sends Thankful Message To Steelers Fans After Rollercoaster 2024 Season

The Pittsburgh Steelers entered into the 2024 NFL season with a lot of question marks. It started with the decisions to bring in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields to compete for the starting quarterback job. Wilson was named the starter, but a calf injury forced him to miss the first six games. Fields stepped up and did a good job leading Pittsburgh to a 4-2 record in Wilson's absence.

When Wilson returned, Head Coach Mike Tomlin made the bold decision to turn the team over to him, and at first, it looked like a wise move. Wilson showed flashes of his former self, and the Steelers appeared to be finding their rhythm. However, as the season wore on, Wilson started to struggle, and the team’s fortunes started to decline. What began as a promising year quickly turned into a nightmare, as Pittsburgh lost five straight games to finish the season.

Despite the disappointing finish, Wilson stayed positive through it all, carrying himself like a true professional. On Friday, Wilson sent a thankful message to Steeler Nation on his social media page, acknowledging their support throughout a challenging season. His gratitude and leadership stood out, even as the season came to a painful end.

Wilson and the Steelers clearly had much higher expectations for the season than finishing with a five-game losing streak. It was a brutal way to end what had once been a season filled with optimism when the Steelers were sitting at 10-3. While Wilson's 2024 stats weren’t terrible and he wasn’t directly responsible for the team's collapse, he also didn’t provide the spark needed to turn things around.

Wilson completed 63.7% of his passes over 11 games for the Steelers, throwing for 2,482 yards, 16 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. While those numbers aren’t bad, the glaring issue was his struggle to move within the pocket. The offensive line didn’t do him many favors, but he also struggled to get the ball out quickly in key situations, which ultimately hampered the offense's rhythm.

Steelers Have To Make A Big Choice About The Future Of The QB Spot

The way the season ended has soured how Steelers fans feel about the future with Wilson. While Pittsburgh was fortunate to have him on the veteran minimum for 2024, if they want him back in 2025, a new deal will have to be negotiated. Wilson has expressed a desire to stay in Pittsburgh, but the price must be right if the Steelers want to retain the 36-year-old quarterback.

On the other hand, the Steelers could opt to move forward with the younger option in Fields. Fields will also be a free agent, and while he would cost more money than some pundits feel he's worth, he presents an opportunity for the team to build around a younger quarterback. Though there are still questions surrounding Fields, he has the potential to grow with the Steelers and could eventually become the face of the franchise.

The Steelers now face a crucial decision about which quarterback they want to build around moving forward. It sets the stage for an intriguing 2025 offseason, one that promises to answer many questions for Steelers fans in the near future. The main question will revolve around the quarterback spot. Wilson and Fields both present several pros and cons. It will be wild to see how Omar Khan and the front office approach the future of the quarterback position.

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