Steelers Under Fire After Colin Cowherd Exposed Person Responsible For Quarterback Chaos: "Ben [Roethlisberger] Didn't Like It"

The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves under heavy scrutiny as questions continue to swirl around their handling of the quarterback position. Despite boasting the league's highest paid defense in 2024, the team's offensive struggles have persisted, largely due to inconsistent quarterback play. With Russell Wilson and Justin Fields now competing to be brought back on a pay raise, many analysts believe Pittsburgh's long-standing approach to roster building is to blame.

The Steelers were fortunate to have Ben Roethlisberger as their quarterback for 18 seasons, but they've struggled to find consistent success at the position since his retirement. They drafted Mason Rudolph as a potential sleeper pick, but he never developed into a long-term option. Their attempt to revive Mitch Trubisky's career also fell short. After selecting Kenny Pickett in the first round, the team moved on from him after just two seasons.

Many fans and analysts have criticized the Steelers' recent approach to the quarterback position, questioning whether the team's conservative strategy has prevented them from securing a true franchise quarterback. Among the most outspoken critics is Colin Cowherd, who didn't hold back when discussing the Steelers' quarterback situation on The Herd. 

"This is all on the Steelers," Cowherd said Monday. "When Ben [Roethlisberger] was aging, they drafted Mason Rudolph. Ben didn't like it, and they [Steelers] were like, 'Okay, we don't wanna offend Ben.' Get over it."

Cowherd pointed to past decisions and missed opportunities. He argued that Pittsburgh's conservative approach during Roethlisberger's final years directly led to their current predicament. 

He criticized the organization for failing to plan ahead and prioritize the position when it mattered most. 

"By the time it was too late, it was a terrible quarterback class, and you reached on Kenny Pickett, who I was told was a third-round pick," Cowherd said. "This is all the Steelers. With a defensive culture, spending all their money on the defensive side of the ball. Now they look up and they've got two C-plus quarterbacks."

The Steelers’ decision to select Pickett was understandable given their situation at the time—they needed to take a shot at finding their next franchise quarterback. While Pickett didn’t work out, that failure isn’t necessarily an indictment of the franchise. Any team transitioning from a nearly two-decade-long quarterback like Roethlisberger is bound to face challenges. 

The real issue is that the Steelers have invested heavily in their defense, making it the highest-paid unit in the NFL. Yet, during the 2024 season, especially down the stretch, the defense didn’t perform up to those expectations. Tomlin believed in Pickett when they drafted him, and the organization fully backed each quarterback attempt they’ve made—only to come up short. 

Steelers Facing Serious Pressure To Get The Quarterback Right For 2025

Now, the pressure is on to get it right. The Steelers made a smart move by acquiring Wilson and Fields on affordable, low-risk deals before the 2024 season. Now they must pick if they want to bring back Wilson or Fields in 2025. Still, the most popular opinion among fans and analysts is that Pittsburgh should give Fields a shot with a market-value contract and see if he can develop into the long-term answer. Given the team’s recent quarterback carousel, sticking with Fields might be their best option.

Cowherd places the blame on the Steelers for being too concerned about Roethlisberger’s feelings, which prevented them from drafting his true heir apparent. One example where he may be right can be found by looking at the Green Bay Packers, who upset Aaron Rodgers by selecting Jordan Love, but stuck to their plan—and now Love looks like the future of the franchise. 

It’s a fair critique, and it highlights a decision the Steelers will have to face in the 2025 offseason. Their quarterback choices will undoubtedly shape the franchise’s trajectory for years to come.

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