Cowherd: Steelers' Best Shot At Continued AFC North Success Is Russell Wilson: "They Have To Sign Him"

The Pittsburgh Steelers were successful in their "get better" game against the Cleveland Browns in Week 14. Despite a disappointing loss to their division rival just a couple of weeks prior, they managed to bounce back spectacularly. A huge factor in the Steelers' win and their current 10-3 record is quarterback Russell Wilson. This has led to speculation about Wilson's future. 

Wilson and his counterpart Justin Fields are on one-year contracts in Steel City. Wilson was still earning a ton of money from his previous contract with the Denver Broncos, who essentially paid him to leave. It seems unlikely to most that the Steelers will be able to work out a way to keep both of them, considering how many teams need quarterbacks. 

Fields started the season while Wilson recovered from a calf injury, and he played well, getting Pittsburgh off to a 4-2 start. For that reason, and because of Wilson's reputation, many believed that the Steelers should stick with Fields. However, as Head Coach Mike Tomlin loves to point out, he gets paid big bucks for making tough decisions, even though some within the organization didn't favor the switch.   

On his show, The Colin Cowherd Podcast, Colin Cowherd told his co-host, John Middlekauff, that he was impressed with how Wilson pulled off the recent win. Considering their previous victory, he said he knew the Browns would come in hyped and confident. When he discovered that Wilson's favorite and best weapon, George Pickens, would be out with a hamstring injury, Cowherd was worried. He called the duo dangerous, but applauded Wilson for getting the ball out and winning. This only increases Cowherd's feeling that Wilson is their best chance of continued success in the AFC North. 

"They don't make a lot of mistakes, they get to the line, they're pretty good on third down," said Cowherd. "I think Pittsburgh's gonna have a hard time in a division with [Joe] Burrow, Lamar Jackson, h**l Jameis Winston's productive. I don't know what else Pittsburgh does. They have to sign him. They missed their star, but they beat a division rival, and he just doesn't make a lot of mistakes."

Middlekauff, a former NFL scout, agreed and said that he felt Wilson had two of his best throws of the season on his two touchdown passes. One went to tight end Pat Freiermuth, and the other went to wide receiver Van Jefferson. Both happened within the red zone, an area where Wilson had previously struggled in 2024.

Cowherd and Middlekauff agreed that Wilson might have been unfairly judged and that sometimes a breakup between a player and a team can be healthy, and that's the case here. Wilson and the Steelers seem like a perfect fit, which surprised them both, considering Pittsburgh is considered a blue-collar city, and the former Super Bowl winner had been labeled a diva. However, Wilson has shown no hubris and instead has ingratiated himself and his teammates into the city with his positive attitude and humility. Now, the only thing that needs to be worked out is what kind of deal Wilson will take to stay where he is wanted. 

Steelers' Russell Wilson Said Their Practices Make All The Difference

After the win over the Browns, Wilson was asked what was different about this game and the Week 12 loss. He said their practices feel like games, and how Tomlin pushes them makes all the difference. The intensity of how the Steelers practice is not a new topic. Jon Kolb often joked that he played three games a week against the Steel Curtain and then had a practice on Sunday against some other team. 

Wilson has certainly brought life back into a sputtering Steelers offense. For the first time since Ben Roethlisberger retired, this team feels like it has legitimate potential. They will just have to see if they can agree to a new contract with Wilson. 

Do you think keeping Wilson is the right decision? Click to comment below. 

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