The Pittsburgh Steelers have so many crucial decisions to make to help get themselves out of the pit of mediocrity. They need to get more starting-caliber talent at certain positions and, of course, they need to figure out who their starting quarterback will be. There are many directions that the team can go in this regard, and their decisions will be very telling of what their priorities are in each category. In 2024, they got two low-risk, high-reward passers to see what they had left. Now, the stakes are raised a bit more.
AP Photo / Matt Freed
Steelers' Russell Wilson and Justin Fields warming up before a game.
During his press conference at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, General Manager Omar Khan explained how things will go during the offseason.
Omar Khan said all options are on the table for quarterback, and securing a QB is the top priority. After that the other dominos of roster construction will start falling into place.
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) February 25, 2025
Obviously, the quarterback is the most important piece, so there is nothing surprising there. Once that is decided, then they can figure out which wide receivers fit their scheme better, as well as how they should factor in the running game. Khan also mentioned who he wants to sign ideally.
Khan said it would be his preference to have either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields return, but he stressed both are pending free agents.
— Ray Fittipaldo (@rayfitt1) February 25, 2025
Like with Owner Art Rooney II, Khan is looking to stay in-house with his options, which means they likely won't bring in someone like Matthew Stafford or Sam Darnold. A large chunk of Steeler Nation knows which quarterback from 2024 they prefer, but does the team agree?
Sebastian Foltz / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers quarterbacks Justin Fields (#2) and Russell Wilson (#3) stretch on the field as the team gets ready to practice during Organized Team Activities at the UPMC Sports Complex in Pittsburgh, PA.
Khan continues on to give himself a soft deadline of when to secure a quarterback.
"It's an ideal scenario; I would like to have this done before the start of the league year [March 12th]," explained Khan. "Obviously, that impacts who you sign, impacts the type of receiver you may go after, or how you build the rest of the team, so all that has an effect."
The Steelers need to hurry up and make a decision then, as March 12th is just 15 days away from when Khan gave his press conference. That is not a lot of time to negotiate with either one or both of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Not only does this type of decision affect the team, but it could also affect who the Steelers get as a backup option.
Gene J. Puskar / AP Photo
Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson points towards some of his teammates as the offense prepares to run a drill during 2024 mandatory minicamp in Pittsburgh, PA.
Steelers' Potential Directions Based On Quarterback Decision
If the Steelers sign Wilson, then it would be fair to expect them to get another young backup with upside to sit and learn behind him. That's what they wanted to do with Fields before the veteran got injured on Day 0 of training camp. With Wilson, his backup could be someone like Zach Wilson, Mac Jones, or a rookie.
If the Steelers keep Fields, then the QB2 would likely be a veteran. Even though 2025 will be his fifth year in the NFL, Fields has a lot to learn if he wants to get anywhere near his ceiling. Someone like Jacoby Brissett or Taylor Heinicke could be brought in to help mentor the young dual-threat option and come in as a spot starter if needed.
The general consensus is to stick with Fields, since he has much more upside than Wilson, but the Steelers may not go that way. Rooney and Head Coach Mike Tomlin seem to feel more comfortable with an established veteran running the show, even if he's clearly past his prime.
What do you think about the Steelers' incoming quarterback decision? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
#SteelerNation
