Steelers Fans Should Have High Hopes At Important QB Position: "The Light Has Clicked"

The Pittsburgh Steelers are going into the 2025 offseason somewhat blind at the quarterback position. Both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields were the top two quarterbacks on the roster in 2024, and they are each set to hit free agency. It is highly unlikely that the organization brings both quarterbacks back in 2025, and the fan base has been debating on which quarterback should be back and take over the starting job in 2025. Wilson ended the season in a rough way, which kind of leads the way for Fields to be back.

The only quarterback in Pittsburgh currently under contract for the 2025 season is Skylar Thompson, and there is a chance he isn't even on the final version of the 53-man roster. Fields or Wilson are likely to be the starter in 2025, while the organization should also consider adding a young quarterback through the NFL Draft. Many fans want the next starting quarterback to be Fields, and former offensive lineman Max Starks agrees. He recently went on Movin' The Chains, where he shared the development and improvements he has seen from Fields.

"So when he comes to Pittsburgh here, we get him first day of training camp, the first thing I'm thinking about, I'm like, what's his footwork and where are his eyes?" Starks asked. "Like that's the first two things I said because that's what I saw in the Chicago game - bad eye discipline at times. And the footwork was all over the place because he couldn't really set his feet, and I felt he was unsure at the beginning of camp. But you could see as he got through camp, the more opportunities he got as the starter with Russell being injured, the more comfortable he felt. The footwork was cleaned up. He would go through his progressions, and I felt like he had matured."

The younger quarterback was taking steps forward in Pittsburgh, something he never really did while he was with the Chicago Bears. He wasn't surrounded with the best talent or coaches during his time there, but he was oftentimes the lone bright spot of that organization. Now he may have another chance to become a starting quarterback, this time with the Steelers.

Steelers Must Keep Justin Fields In 2025

Fields had the opportunity to start the first six games of the 2024 season for the Steelers, and he went 4-2 before being replaced once Wilson returned to full health. Fields seemed to improve week in and week out, and he provided more versatility at the position due to his mobility. Starks spoke more about how he feels about the quarterback, and why he is confident in him moving forward.

"So then when he stepped in at the beginning of the season and they go 4-2, it was like, oh, the light has clicked for him," Starks said. "You come to this team where you have a chance to kind of take a step back and kind of actually learn for a change. So I felt it's been very beneficial for Justin this year. Because you've seen him cool, calculated, he's not frustrated or anything. It's like he's taking in information. He and Russell are talking when they come off the field. And so I really felt like that was a, this was a growth moment for Justin Fields."

The idea of the quarterback going into the 2024 season was that Fields would be able to learn from Wilson. Wilson's injury threw a wrench in that plan as Fields was thrust into the starting role early, but once Wilson returned, it became obvious that Fields was trying to soak up as much information as possible.

The best Wilson played during the 2024 season is the best he can be. There is likely no more growing, which is not the case for Fields. He has such a high-ceiling, and his mobility is an exciting factor as that is clearly the direction the NFL is heading. Fields would also likely be a cheaper option for Pittsburgh, as he is projected to get just $8.9 million per season.

Do you think Fields can be an impressive starting quarterback? Let us know in the comments below!

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