Before acquiring Justin Fields via trade, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin made it clear the team intended to use Russell Wilson as their starting quarterback in 2024. Both passers are pending free agents, and training camp looms as an opportunity for Fields to reverse the pecking order. 
Tomlin later opened the door to Fields unseating Wilson for the starter’s gig this offseason, but such a development would still be considered an upset at this point. The latter has the opportunity to earn a multi-year stay in Pittsburgh or a deal sending him to another new team during free agency in 2025 with his play as a Steeler. New offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is in line with the organizational notion that the QB1 spot is Wilson’s to lose.
“Russ is in the pole position,” Smith said (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “It’s a competition. Obviously, we get to Latrobe, I’m sure things will heat up, but both those guys knew that, however they were acquired, and they got here and I think it’s been pretty transparent.”
Indeed, Tomlin has routinely used the same phrasing this offseason when describing Pittsburgh’s situation under center. Wilson has impressed during spring workouts, giving him the edge so far over Fields. That has pointed further to the former Super Bowl winner opening the season at the helm, although the 25-year-old does not intend to spend the full campaign on the sidelines.
Opinion amongst PFR’s readers also pegs Wilson as the favorite to operate as Pittsburgh’s starter for at least a majority of the 2024 campaign. In that event, his free agent market (and that of Fields) would be interesting given the Steelers’ reset at the position undertaken this offseason. Moving on from Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph paved the way for the team’s new faces acclimating to Smith’s scheme. More clarity will emerge during training camp and the preseason, but the competition between Wilson and Fields will be one to watch as the summer unfolds.
Any other fans in the AFCN quietly dreading this upcoming Steelers team? Sure, it could very well descend into a comedy of errors like most assume it will, but if things somehow click this team could be a major inconvenience for everyone.
PIT is always a solid team, the only thing they lack is offense. That Canada clown was awful, now that he is out I have to imagine any other OC will probably have better results.
Plus unlike most people I actually think Russel is still a good starting QB in the league. He had 1 bad year and last year he looked good not great but really good for a stretch there.
Defense is awesome, run game with Arthur Smith should be top 10 in the league, so yeah maybe this team can go to the playoffs. I think the schedule is brutal at the end of the season but I won’t be surprised if PIT goes 10-7 and grabs a wild card spot.
Like you said if everything clicks this team will be a major inconvenience.
Yeah, I don’t think Wilson is anything great at this point in his career, but he wasn’t bad last year. He just wasn’t worth guaranteeing serious 2025 money. Either he or Fields should be a pretty big step up over anything they’ve had at QB the last few years. Weird to put two QBs who don’t tend to get the ball out quickly or throw over the middle with Arthur Smith, but all three are better than the guys they’re replacing, the line should be improved, and the defense is pretty reliable.
I’d be looking forward to this season even more if they had a viable number 2 wideout. Maybe they’ll still get one
It’s an interesting situation for the Steelers this year if all goes very well
After the season, they likely won’t be able to afford Wilson and an alienated Fields may opt to sign elsewhere
But who knows?
The AFC North is always a dogfight and since the Steelers somehow are scheduled to play each team twice to wrap up their season, it’s going to be a tough road
My biggest concern is that they have a #2 (Pickens) and seriously need a WR1. I’m not convinced that GP can get the separation necessary to really succeed, and now being the top target will only have defenses planning for him more
Hilarious. He wasn’t good last year if you actually watched games and don’t box score watch. He was mediocre at best.
He was incredibly frustrating to watch, but he’s still much better than anything Pittsburgh had last year.
Mediocre play at QB last year would have been manna from heaven for Steeler fans. And that was mediocre play with a head coaching “genius” who didn’t want him there.
It’s funny you think the Hackett year was the outlier lmao. Pete gave up on rus too. What if Payton got the best out of rus, and that’s with dumbing down the playbook since rus couldn’t read the regular one. People like to talk trash on Payton, but he took a 3 win team to 8 wins and got the best out of rus who cost us almost as many wins as losses. I give it to about mid season before yall cry for a change.
If you really believe the “Russ couldn’t read the playbook” stories, OK. I don’t, simply because the only reasons to even put those stories out there would be to either make Russ look bad or Payton look good.
At the very least, I’m willing to give the guy a chance. If I did so for Pickett and Trubisky it’s the least I can do. And sorry to say, he can’t play any worse than those two guys
Pittsburgh will be much improved this season, the way things are looking right now (barring injuries). The lack of another top WR is a problem, but if we can keep the offense on the field, avoiding 3 and outs, then our defense should also improve.
Fields will be the starter by week 3
Only if Russ gets hurt. Based on what I’ve been reading so far, it would take a whole lot to go wrong for the Steelers to pull the plug that quickly.
Russ hasn’t done much to inspire confidence in his ability the past two seasons. He’s definitely declined since his glory days in Seattle. However, now that he’s freed from the dumpster fire in Denver, I think he’s due to rebound somewhat. I mean how much of his fall was due to Hackett who had one of the worst coaching performances in league history and Sean Payton who was against him from the start?
Russ’s ego came back to bite him the a$$, but he’s been sufficiently humbled since then. A fresh start seems like just what he needs, not to mention the motivation of playing for a new contract.
Payton gave him every opportunity.. it’s bad when you have to dumb down a playbook because your qb can’t read the plays or see the field.. not to mention how many forced sacks he had with a top o line.. if you can’t make plays then what’s the point of wanting a guy.
Seems to be a lot of confidence from Steeler fans for a team that will probably finish last in their division. If having one stopgap QB is worrisome how does having two stopgap QBs raise ones optimism? Tomlin is a terrific HC but the deck is really stacked against him this season.
QB play in games between AFC North rivals is often not the deciding factor of an outcome. These teams get after one another on any given Sunday with fervor. Impossible to predict who ends up first or last in that division in June. Signed, Ravens Fan.