Steelers Now
With Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields both set to become unrestricted free agents in March, the Steelers reportedly have an interest in kicking the tires on veteran Joe Flacco as a backup option, according to Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda.
“I’m told to keep an eye on the San Francisco 49ers, Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots as suitors for Flacco in the offseason, as all would look for a veteran backup,” Pauline wrote.
Of course, the Steelers are highly familiar with the 40-year-old Flacco, as he was the Baltimore Ravens quarterback for 11 years. Flacco has played with several teams since leaving Baltimore in 2019, most recently with the Indianapolis Colts.
This past season, Flacco led the Colts to a 27-24 victory over the Steelefs in Week 4. Flacco completed 16 of 26 passes (61.5%) for 168 yards with two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 105.9.
Overall, in eight games an six starts, Flacco completed 162 of 248 passes for 1,7161 yards with 12 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a passer rating of 90.5.
Flacco led the Cleveland Browns on a great run at the end of the 2023 season, powering them into the playoffs. It was such an impressive year for the 38-year-old quarterback that he received NFL Comeback Player of the Year from the Associated Press.
In 2024, Justin Fields played some of the best ball of his career in the six games he filled in for Russell Wilson. He set highs in completion percentage (65.8%), interception rate (0.6%), success rate (42.9%), quarterback rating (93.3) and adjusted net yards per attempt (5.86).
A report by Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated last week said the team grew frustrated with Wilson down the stretch run, but would love to keep working with Justin Fields, who started the first six games of the season while Wilson was hurt.
If the Steelers run it back with Fields, Flacco could be a good mentor for the young quarterback. It’s highly unlikely that Wilson would re-sign to be a backup. Rejoining his former head coach Pete Carroll in Las Vegas seems like an ideal landing spot for him.
