Steelers Now
Four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers joining the Pittsburgh Steelers is undoubtedly a good sign for the 2025 season. Even at 41 years old, he is likely to be the best quarterback the team has had since Ben Roethlisberger before his elbow injury. But the real question is this: Did Pittsburgh already have its long-term answer in Justin Fields and simply not trust him? And does that reflect a deeper issue tied directly to head coach Mike Tomlin?
Fields and Russell Wilson both arrived in Pittsburgh during the 2024 offseason. Fields came over from Chicago, where despite inconsistent results, he showed real growth during his three seasons. He improved each year despite being stuck behind a poor offensive line and an overly conservative scheme. From the first day of OTAs, Wilson was treated as the presumed starter, but Fields was never far behind. He easily could have been in the mix.
That opportunity came the week before the season opener, when Wilson reaggravated the calf injury that had limited him during training camp. Fields stepped in as the starter, and by most accounts, he played well.
He threw only one interception on 161 pass attempts, completed 65 percent of his throws, and led the Steelers to a 4–2 start. He flashed in a 300-yard outing against the Colts and a 245-yard, multi-touchdown game in Week 3 against a Chargers defense that ranked 11th in total yards allowed. He added an extra layer to the offense with his mobility, creating plays that simply did not exist for more traditional passers.
Fields didn’t exactly light the league on fire, but considering the circumstances, what more could you expect? He was filling in, likely without full freedom at the line of scrimmage or the coaching staff’s trust to open things up. It is safe to assume the reins were still on. With more time, more reps, and more belief, it is entirely possible he could have been the answer.
Instead, the Steelers benched him. They chose to go back to a 35-year-old Russell Wilson. That decision proved to be one of the true nails in the coffin for Fields’ brief time in Pittsburgh. When you bench a quarterback, especially a young one, it often marks the beginning of the end. It drains their confidence and signals that the team is not committed. This is exactly why teams hesitate to start rookie quarterbacks before they are ready. If they struggle and get pulled, it can be difficult for them to mentally recover.
To be fair, Wilson gave the offense a spark early on, particularly with his deep ball. But by the end of the season, the unit once again stalled. One of the main arguments against Fields was that he did not have Wilson’s deep-passing ability. But who is to say he did not? Did the coaching staff ever really let him try?
According to Pro Football Focus, Justin Fields ranked among the NFL’s top 10 quarterbacks in deep ball accuracy during the 2023 season. Unlike...
