The Pittsburgh Steelers once again find themselves facing a quarterback issue as the organization heads into an offseason. The only quarterback currently under contract for the 2025 season is Skylar Thompson, while Russell Wilson and Justin Fields' contracts expired following the 2024 season. The team is likely to bring one of those two players back to take on the starting role, although it is hard to tell which player is in pole position when it comes to being re-signed. Both quarterbacks will have other teams interested, so it is crucial the organization makes up its mind before free agency.
AP Photo / Gene J. Puskar
Steelers' Russell Wilson and Justin Fields talk while they get warmed up for camp.
The Steelers will need to revamp the entire quarterback room in 2025. Even Kyle Allen was on just a one-year deal. He seems serviceable and has a ton of experience, but there is a chance he will find a new home.
Pittsburgh reshaped its entire quarterback room after the 2023 season after trading Kenny Pickett, releasing Mitch Trubisky, and letting Mason Rudolph walk in free agency. Now it seems like that will be happening again, with the exception of either Fields or Wilson. The backup quarterback position is important, and team insider Gerry Dulac gave his thoughts on what might happen there.
"If the Steelers do settle on Fields, there is still a matter of who will be the backup," Dulac wrote. "The best addition would be [Daniel] Jones, the former New York Giants quarterback. And would the Steelers consider another reunion with Mason Rudolph?"
It is unlikely the Steelers will be able to bring back both Wilson and Fields in a similar way to how they did things at the position in 2024. One will be back, and a back up will likely be signed externally. Dulac also wrote about how it is unlikely that Allen will return in 2024, but maybe that could change if he is moved up to second on the depth chart. The most interesting part of Dulac's comments was that he considered bringing back Rudolph to back up Fields or Wilson in 2025.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers QB Mason Rudolph runs for a first down as he attempts to keep his team in the game vs. the Buffalo Bills.
There will be plenty of options when it comes to filling out the depth at the quarterback position. Daniel Jones, who has a ton of starting experience, would make sense. But so would Rudolph. The Steelers and Head Coach Mike Tomlin love familiarity, and Rudolph provides that while also excelling as a starter for Pittsburgh during the 2023 season.
Rudolph left the Steelers after the 2023 season and signed with the Tennessee Titans during free agency. He signed just a one-year deal for the 2024 season, so he is expected to back on the open market in 2025. He didn't necessarily play well for the Titans as he played in eight games and threw nine touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Kareem Elgazzar / The Enquirer / USA Today Network
Mason Rudolph keeps his eyes downfield for a pass against the Cincinnati Bengals
Steelers Should Look Elsewhere To Fill Out The Quarterback Room In The 2025 Offseason
Rudolph didn't always have the best relationship with the people in Pittsburgh. During the 2024 offseason the organization was flirting with the idea of signing Rudolph to a new deal, but the Steelers pulled it from him once they had the opportunity to sign Wilson. It is certainly a rocky relationship between the veteran quarterback and the organization, and it would probably be best if Pittsburgh found a new face to bring in.
Multiple OC’s. Russ Wilson. Kenny Pickett. Justin Fields. Mason Rudolph. The last years Ben. It’s all the same person/look. Because it’s not the player. It’s the ideology/approach.
— Kevin Adams (@KevinAdams26) January 5, 2025
The Steelers refuse to adapt to the modern NFL game and that starts at the top.
We. Need. Change.
The best idea at the quarterback position is to sign Fields to be the starter, while drafting a quarterback during the 2025 NFL Draft. The high-end talent at the quarterback position in this draft isn't spectacular, but the guys that should be available in the middle of the draft aren't too bad. There should be some diamonds in the rough that the Steelers can find.
What do you think about the Steelers potentially bringing back Rudolph? Let us know in the comments below!
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