Steelers' Costly Decision To Bench Justin Fields Could Drive Him To Sign Elsewhere In 2025 Free Agency

Head Coach Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers made a bold decision by handing the keys of the offense over to veteran quarterback Russell Wilson after Justin Fields led the team to a 4-2 start in 2024. Both quarterbacks were brought in by the Steelers for one season in an attempt to find a passer that could have a future in the black and gold. Tomlin and the Steelers only found themselves in an even more concerning predicament after the franchise lost five straight games, including a playoff game, to close out the 2024 campaign with Wilson running the offense and Fields watching on the sidelines.  

As the 2025 free agency period lies ahead, the Steelers don't have their starting quarterback for 2025 currently on the roster. Both Wilson and Fields are in the midst of speaking and negotiating with the Steelers for a possible new contract, but who the franchise prefers remains in question. Arthur Moats, a former linebacker for the Steelers, explained how Tomlin's decision to sit Fields for the rest of the 2024 season for Wilson could cost the franchise. 

"For Justin Fields, his perception was, 'I did show you that I could be the guy and we were winning and there wasn't a lot of reasons to pull me from the lineup,'" Moats said. "So when you pull a guy out of the lineup, yeah. That, you remember. When it comes time to negotiate, you bring that up. I know I did. Like, 'Hey, bro. I remember how y'all tried to do this at the front end. We saw how the results were. I'm not going for that again. I'd rather sign over here.'"

As the Steelers began to fall apart with Wilson as the quarterback, reports said that Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith wanted to keep Fields as the team's starter, and keep Wilson on the bench. If the Steelers truly want Fields back, Smith will have to be a big part in convincing him. 

Regardless of how Smith feels, Tomlin's choice to sit the 25-year-old quarterback could have done the organization a disservice. Fields spent his first three seasons with the Chicago Bears, who ended up trading him away, believing he wasn't the future. 

That has to take a toll on a talented player like Fields mentally. When the time comes to shine for a historic franchise like Pittsburgh, he won four of six games, but still got kicked to the curb. If Fields wants to sign elsewhere, it will be because he wants respect from a franchise that will give him a real shot at being a starter full-time. 

While it would make sense for Fields to be unhappy with the way his first season as a Steeler went, there's still optimism that he and the organization would both like to agree on a new contract for 2025 and possibly beyond. 

Currently, Pittsburgh's top candidates for their 2025 starting quarterback are Fields, Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, or Matthew Stafford. For most fans, Fields is the youngest, most logical route to take for at least another year before the team takes another swing on a rookie. Unfortunately, the Steelers will have an old and aging quarterback under center in 2025 if Fields remains unhappy with the Steelers. 

Steelers' Top Competitors That Could Have Real Interest In Signing Justin Fields 

The Steelers won't be the only NFL team who could be willing to give Fields a shot as its starter in 2025. Though many teams that are in quarterback purgatory will likely take a swing in the early rounds of the draft, the New York Jets, New York Giants, Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders all need a quarterback in addition to Pittsburgh. 

The Jets are the most threatening candidate to the Steelers currently, considering the offensive weapons they possess and the fact that they're moving on from Rodgers. 

Do you think the Steelers should offer Fields a size-able contract? How do you think Fields is personally feeling about the way he's been treated in the Steel City? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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