Steelers' Justin Fields Will Need To "Want To Come Back" But Will He With Russell Wilson In Town For 2 or 3 Years?

Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin seems unperturbed about the looming quarterback controversy. The organization chose to clean house, letting all three of last year's quarterbacks seek opportunities elsewhere. Instead, they shocked fans by bringing in two big names to replace them: Russell Wilson, last with the Denver Broncos, and Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears. 

While Wilson and Fields might be well known superstars, that doesn't mean they are the solution to the Steelers' quarterback woes. They also bring questions, chiefly about how you use them and how to keep two former starters happy on the same roster. Steelers running back Jaylen Warren recently announced that Fields is being considered as a special teams returner, but most analysts are now dismissing that. 

Recently, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly from The Athletic discussed the quarterback situation in his popular Steelers Mailbag column and was asked what will happen after this season. Tomlin has said that Wilson has "pole position," and Kaboly has said in his column that he believes Wilson will start for the whole season, unless he gets injured. Kaboly does not believe Fields will take the field for gadget-type plays or special teams either. 

With the Steelers declining Fields' fifth-year option, to the surprise of no one, they will have to figure out how to keep and pay both quarterbacks, assuming Wilson performs well. Kaboly just doesn't see Fields buying into being a long-term second-string option and was asked if the Steelers would sign Fields to a Jordan Love-type extension. Kaboly doesn't think Fields will get a contract as lucrative as Love's, which was about $13 million guaranteed, but thinks it would have to be close for him to stay. 

"The Steelers have to ensure they have Fields around for another year, but at a price that makes sense. General Manager Omar Khan will have to be creative, and to be honest, Fields is going to have to want to come back to make it happen," wrote Kaboly. "I guess the question is: With Russell Wilson in town for a year or two or three, why would Fields want to come back?"

That is the big question. Both Tomlin and General Manager Omar Khan have said they plan to keep the two quarterbacks long-term, but Fields is young and, despite struggling in Chicago, will want to lead his team. Maybe sitting behind Wilson, who won a Super Bowl, for one season is palatable. It can be chalked up as a learning experience, but beyond that, it might start to hurt his pride. 

Despite having two former starters in their quarterback room, the Steelers have not earned oohs and ahs from folks around the league. Instead, they are being doubted and scoffed at a bit. Both quarterbacks have much to prove at this stage of their respective careers, and it's hard to imagine Fields wanting to wait years to do it. 

Could The Steelers Make The Super Bowl With Russell Wilson?

In his same column, Kaboly was asked if the Steelers' offensive troubles of the past few years are all behind them now. He answered that football is too finicky of a sport to definitively say that one good draft class is what you need to get you to the Promised Land. However, he does feel they are much closer and are a much better team now than they were the past two years. 

Now, with a much improved offensive line and a defense that is somehow even more dangerous than last year, many wonder if Pittsburgh's weak link is at quarterback. 

"You can probably say that about the 18 teams that don't make the playoffs every year," said Kaboly. "Wilson could be good; he might not have to be great. A good roster fit might be all it takes."

It has certainly happened with other teams in the past. The San Francisco 49ers made it to the Super Bowl at the end of 2023 with "Mr. Irrelevent," Brock Purdy, under center. The 49ers didn't make it that far because Purdy put the team on his back and carried them through the playoffs. Instead, the organization put an excellent team around him, which helped him succeed. 

The NFL has several quarterbacks considered "game managers" who made it and won a Super Bowl. That includes the Baltimore Ravens' Trent Dilfer and the Bears' Jim McMahon. Wilson has never been just a game manager; he contributed to their success during his time with the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson and Fields are coming out of less-than-ideal situations, making it easy to take some blame off them. 

Do you think Fields will want to return in 2025? How do you think Wilson will perform this season? Click to comment below.

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