Steelers' Justin Fields Received Incredible Comparison To One Of The Greatest Quarterbacks Ever

The Pittsburgh Steelers pulled off an upset against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1 of the 2024 season. The Black and Gold were four-point underdogs heading into the game, and that gulf was only widened by concerns over who would be their starting quarterback.

Head Coach Mike Tomlin has said ever since the team signed Russell Wilson that he would likely be the Week 1 starter. He continued that mantra, even after Wilson suffered a calf injury right before the start of training camp. That injury allowed Justin Fields to work with the first-team offense for a significant amount of time. It also allowed the Steelers coaches to assess Fields' capabilities fully.

Wilson returned and was able to play in two of three preseason games. However, there was no clear winner between Wilson and Fields, with both quarterbacks having some success, and some struggles. That led to an increased call for the team to just go with younger, more athletic player in Fields. However, Wilson must not have been as healthy as expected because he ultimately was named inactive for the Falcons game, and Fields was being given the opportunity he'd surely been praying for. 

The Steelers didn't manage to put the ball in the end zone, but they were able to beat the Falcons 18-10 thanks to Chris Boswell's incredible footwork. However, that is not fully reflective of a failure on Fields' part. In fact, there was progress evident both in Fields and in the Steelers' offense. Pittsburgh only had one three-and-out, sustaining drives much longer than the previous two seasons, which gave this star defense much-needed rest throughout the contest. 

On ESPN's Get Up, host Mike Greenberg asked former NFL Head Coach Rex Ryan about Fields, how he thought he performed, and what he sees for his future. 

"You know me, I've always called this guy the future because I love the ability of this guy," praised Ryan. "Right now, he gets to play again. I thought in the offseason, it's the best trade by far, getting this guy for nothing for a sixth-round pick, which was absolutely crazy. Look, I get it, initially when he came in the league, he's a better athlete than he is a quarterback. But so what? So was Steve Young. Do you know what I mean? So was Randall Cunningham. Well guess what, they can get better, those guys have a tendency to get better. If all of a sudden this guy hits, you're looking at a superstar."

There is no word on whether Fields will get the nod to start Week 2 against the Denver Broncos. Wilson left the Broncos with a sour taste in his mouth and has to be hoping he is the one who will deliver a loss to the Mile High City. 

Steelers' Justin Fields In Good Company

Ryan certainly holds Fields in high esteem. His comparison is a lofty one. Steve Young won three Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers, starting out as the backup to the legendary Joe Montana. While Young was always an excellent backup, the time behind Montana allowed him to develop and integrate fully into the 49ers' excellent offense. From the outside, it appears that this is what the Steelers are hoping to do with Fields and Wilson.  

Randall Cunningham spent most of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles, and while he did not win a Super Bowl, he was a four-time Pro Bowler and was named the NFL MVP and the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. 

Young and Cunningham were both very mobile, especially considering the generation in which they played. During his career, Cunningham led the league in rushing yards for a quarterback, with 4,928 yards, and now is fourth all-time on that list behind Michael Vick, Cam Newton, and Lamar Jackson.  

The talents Fields possesses, such as speed, are not necessarily ones that can be taught. However, the coaching staff can work with him, much as the 49ers coaches did with Young, to improve his ability to read the defense and his passing skills. 

What did you think of Fields' debut against the Falcons? Click to comment below. 

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