The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the 2024 offseason with a ton of uncertainty at the quarterback position, and the organization looked to fix that by signing Russell Wilson and trading for Justin Fields. One year later, the franchise is in the same spot. The only quarterback currently on the roster for the 2025 season is Skylar Thompson, and the front office is still weighing their other options. The most likely scenario is that either Fields or Wilson will return to be the starter in 2025, and the organization might finally be getting closer to making a decision.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson and Justin Fields warming up before a game in 2024.
Both Fields and Wilson are scheduled to hit free agency once the new league year rolls around in March, but the organization seems set on re-signing one of the two quarterbacks. Wilson seemed to be a shoe-in to be the starter in 2025 after he got off to a hot start in Pittsburgh, but the veteran quickly fizzled out and wound up ending the year on a five-game losing streak. Fields on the other hand has a ton of upside, which fans around the league can recognize.
ESPN Insider Brooke Pryor reported on Monday that the organization feels as though it can bring out the best in Fields, which might be a sign the franchise is leaning towards bringing him back to Pittsburgh.
"I'm very interested to see what Justin Fields would look like if he isn't playing so risk averse," Pryor said. "I think there's a happy medium between all-out go-for-the-home-run-ball-every-time and playing not to turn the ball over. I think that the Steelers think they can unlock that."
Fields started the first six games of the 2024 season for the Steelers while Wilson recovered from a calf injury that occurred at the start of training camp. The young quarterback looked better as a passer than he ever did with the Chicago Bears, and his mobility adds an extra layer to the offense. He led Pittsburgh to a 4-2 record during his time as the starter, while contributing 10 total touchdowns and just one interception.
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Steelers' Justin Fields runs with the football during Week 12 of the 2024 season against the Cleveland Browns.
Fields and Wilson were in a quarterback competition over the summer, although the competition seemed to just be a facade. Wilson could barely participate in training camp while Fields seemed to be continuously improving throughout his time in Latrobe, however Wilson was still named the starter before the 2024 season began.
Wilson waiting in the wings put a ton of pressure on Fields as he filled in for the veteran while he recovered from his injury, which likely caused the young quarterback to play somewhat scared. Pryor spoke about this during her appearance on ESPN Radio.
"I think they really like his mobility. He has arm strength, he has good arm talent. His decision-making looked like it got better," Pryor said. "But let's be honest. He was playing risk-averse football because he knew Russell Wilson was right there, that he could come back any moment. He wanted to extend his time as the starter as long as he could."
Fields' play was put under a microscope while he was filling in for Wilson. Every play and every throw was picked apart. As each week passed by, Wilson was getting closer to 100 percent, and Fields was mature and accepting when Head Coach Mike Tomlin announced Wilson as the starter going into Week 7. The decision was heavily criticized as many believed Fields played well enough to retain the role.
Associated Press
Steelers' Justin Fields running with the football during training camp while Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith gets hype behind him.
Steelers' Arthur Smith Likely Wants To Coach Justin Fields
Leading up to and during the 2024 season, it became clear that Tomlin was a fan of Wilson. He gave Fields no shot to win the starting job during training camp, and didn't even turn to the younger quarterback when the team lost five-straight games while not scoring more than 17 points with Wilson at the helm. However, Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith has always been very complimentary of Fields. Smith has always been a run-first play-caller, and a mobile quarterback like Fields can make his job much easier. Smith is probably pushing for the quarterback behind closed doors, which makes it all the more likely that Fields will be the starter in 2025.
What do you think about the Steelers believing they can unlock Fields? Let us know in the comments below!
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