Justin Fields appears to be moving toward solidification of the Steelers’ starting quarterback job, one he could not win during training camp. Pittsburgh is 3-0, and Russell Wilson saw a calf injury deny him the chance to begin a starter run with the team. Wilson remains limited in practice.
While Mike Tomlin is slow-playing this matter, it would be somewhat difficult to see the Steelers pivot back to Wilson after Fields piloted the team to three wins. This always loomed as a possible scenario, despite the Steelers’ offseason party line favoring the more experienced option. Wilson’s status changed when the Steelers acquired Fields days after officially signing the 13th-year veteran, and the Bears helped steer the younger passer to Pittsburgh.
Although it remains farfetched the Bears turned down a notably better offer to send Fields to the Steelers, they are still believed to have done right by their three-year starter to move him to a team without a solidified QB1. Fields confirmed the Bears helped him out by trading him to the Steelers, indicating on Cam Heyward‘s Not Just Football podcast the NFC North team gave him a chance to choose his destination. Months before losing a higher-profile trade sweepstakes that featured Brandon Aiyuk ultimately preferring to stay with the 49ers, the Steelers benefited from a somewhat similar process — in a deal that only cost them a conditional sixth-round pick.
With Wilson looking likely to be Pittsburgh’s backup when he returns to full strength, Fields will probably cost the Steelers a 2025 fourth due to playing more than 51% of the team’s offensive snaps this season. The former first-round pick preferred this situation to others the Bears entertained, telling Heyward other teams with solidified starters pursued him. The Chargers and Ravens were two of those, while Fields added the Raiders — who did not have a surefire starter at that point — were also in the mix.
Bears GM Ryan Poles confirmed other trade paths existed, and Fields was intrigued by the Falcons, Vikings and Raiders before QB dominoes fell. The Raiders, who hired two-year Bears OC Luke Getsy to be their play-caller (after Kliff Kingsbury backed out), were viewed as unlikely to make a serious Fields pursuit in February but then — minutes before agreeing to terms with Gardner Minshew — were reconnected to the Ohio State product. Minshew heading to Las Vegas on a two-year, $25MM deal undoubtedly helped push Fields to Pittsburgh, even though the former needed to win a months-long competition to win the Raiders’ starting job.
The 25-year-old passer said his Bears exit interview gave him the impression he would be traded, with QB recalling Bears brass telling him they faced a “tricky situation” due to holding the No. 1 overall pick for a second straight year. This reminded of Poles’ comments to the media shortly after Chicago’s season ended. As expected, the Bears passed on a fourth Fields season by giving the Steelers the fifth-year option decision. Pittsburgh declined the option, but the team is interested in a post-2024 relationship with the dual-threat QB. Although immediate interest in a post-2024 Wilson contract surfaced as well, that seems less likely to come to pass based on this season’s early arc.
The Chargers received inquiries from the Patriots and Vikings on Justin Herbert but shot them down, leaving no doubt about their QB plan in Jim Harbaugh‘s first season. The Ravens’ penchant for employing dual-threat Lamar Jackson backups — from Robert Griffin III to Tyler Huntley — would have made Fields an interesting piece in Baltimore, but he would have seen no route to a starting job there. Every non-Steelers team to discuss Fields with the Bears viewed him as a backup, and the QB told Heyward he was concerned about the musical chairs game that featured a few spots filled during the legal tampering period. (The Steelers obtained Fields five days into free agency.)
As far as Fields’ Steelers situation goes, he may not only to be moving toward being the team’s starter but reaching a place where the club would allow him to play through mistakes (rather than receiving a quick hook), ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. Wilson, who battled injuries in Denver, is not yet moving well on his balky calf. This continues to give Fields a runway to win the long-term gig. Even though QBR ranks Fields 21st, he has done enough to keep a defense-powered Steelers team in games.
Fields’ low-octane work does not completely slam the door on Wilson, so it will be a situation to monitor for a while. This could become awkward when Wilson recovers, as the potential Hall of Famer was given some early assurances upon signing. But the vet’s calf injury allowed Fields extensive reps in training camp, where he impressed. And he has continued to gain ground in the weeks since, leading the youngest of Pittsburgh’s passers to the precipice of a QB1 announcement.
Fields backing up Herbert in LA would have been cool ngl
Fields has the bigger upside than Wilson, but Fields is better at not losing games than winning them on his own. The question will be if PITTS is willing to shell out $35-40M per year for Fields on a long term contract.
I’d rather pay $10-15M under market value for an average QB. Bet the Jags, Boys’, Fins, Falcons etc, all wished their QB’s weren’t making top 5 money.
Plus3, I can answer that question for you without a doubt.
OK…so…
A) You go with an old guy who has been nursing a minor injury for months now and was ran out of town by his last two teams in the hopes that he can be a stopgap solution for a year or two.
OR
B) You go with a young guy with upside who is playing well and winning and could be your quarterback for the next decade if he continues to play well, likely at a reduced rate compared to what most are paying QB’s these days.
Tough choice, eh?
I’m glad your “told ya so” narrative has been shown as right so far
So far
I’ve been a Steelers fan since the horse and buggy days, but I’m just not sold yet. I’m hoping this isn’t all just a case of playing three average teams with Fields getting the chance to build his confidence. But it’s way too early
If Fields FAILS, the Steelers will be in the exact same position as they will be if Wilson SUCCEEDS.
Still needing to find their QB of the future.
Literally no argument left for going to Wilson.
russ is finished. he should cook retirement
Trey Lance to the Dolphins. Full circle.
The problem with your argument is twofold
One, as Fields piles up wins, he convinces the Steelers and most pundits that he IS the quarterback of the future
Two, if Fields returns to the form he had in Chicago and Wilson saves the day, they *won’t* be in the “same” situation but rather, in a quandary about the future
But as I say, I hope you continue to be proven right here.
It’s only been 3 games with Fields as QB ..3-0..he’s giving Tomlin exactly what he wants. Fields is getting comfortable with the new OC. It shows in his playing. As he gets more comfortable they will open it up more and more. They started last week. What is overlooked about the new OC, is that prepares a game plan for every opponent. Which is exactly what Fields needs. I think they will sign him to a multi year contract. He’s only 25.
The doomsayers have been clamoring for three weeks for the kid to fail.
I don’t think he will
It also helps that Fields is not on a team tanking as hard is it could to get a top pick, like the Bears in 22. I get people keep wanting to overlook that ‘little’ fact, but its hard to be a good QB on the field when the rest of the offense is complete garbage (with a hopeless OC to boot).
Is Fields like a Mahomes, or even a Williams? No and probably will not be, but in the right system he should be able to win, and maybe win you some games with his legs being the difference. He does not have to be spectacular, just good enough.