The biggest question that Pittsburgh Steelers fans are asking for this offseason is who is going to be the starting quarterback in 2025. This seems to be the same question the organization consistently has been asking themselves every offseason since Ben Roethlisberger retired. The Steelers hoped guys like Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, Mitch Trubisky, Justin Fields, or Russell Wilson could somewhat fill the shoes that Roethlisberger left. While it's been a tough journey to find their next franchise quarterback, many fans are hoping that the organization will bring Fields back and let him have full control of the offense in 2025.
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Steelers quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields throw at practice.
Fields led Pittsburgh to a 4-2 start at the beginning of the season and was able to make plays with his legs when he needed to, and with how Wilson ended the season, it seems that Fields is becoming the favorable option as free agency approaches.
On the Kaboly + Mack podcast, Chris Mack and Mark Kaboly discussed the question that's on every fan's mind. With the Steelers having a good amount of holes in their roster from the defensive line, to the weapons on offense, bringing back Wilson wouldn't make sense.
"At the top of the organization about that pecking order of who they prefer to have as opposed to what I think most of the rest of us who live in reality are looking at the quarterback pecking order as," said Mack. "And I think the most of the rest of us living in reality go, listen man, you guys got steamrolled on the ground in the last five weeks of the season. You couldn't score any points, so obviously your d-line needs work, you need more weapons on offense, you need to have a quarterback that can help put it all together. Maybe it's not Justin Fields, but we know it's not Russ and so Fields becomes top in the pecking order there."
Mack believes the reality is that Fields is a more viable option that Wilson.
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Steelers quarterback Justin Fields runs off the playing surface following a Week 6 game against the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV.
He doesn't believe what some of the other insiders or media personnel are throwing out there when it comes to the Steelers' roster and them being just a few pieces away from being a contending team.
"And I think that's the way most of us who live in reality looks at the situation, where as everything that you've [Kaboly] reported and that people have mentioned, Dulac, Schefter, all the rest over the last month, leads us down the path of what you just said, we are just a few pieces away guys," said Mack. "Let's bring back Russ and run it back again and see what happens. That is delusional in my opinion."
With the current setup of the Steelers' roster, Mack knows if the front office decides to re-sign Wilson and let him run it back, it could be worse. Wilson is not the Steelers' answer to the quarterback position and he proved that in the last five weeks of the 2024 season.
While there isn't many great options between free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft for the Steelers to find their quarterback of this upcoming season, it seems to make more sense to let Fields have his shot. He has a year under his belt learning Arthur Smith's offense and still young with a lot of starting experience. He may not be the Steelers' long-term solution just yet, but short-term is a better option than Wilson in Mack's opinion.
Steelers Will Seal Their Fate If They Give Wilson Another Chance
If the Steelers were to try the Wilson experience next season, another failed January could be in the cards. While the verdict is still out there for Fields, his ceiling and potential should be more enticing for the Steelers over an aging Wilson.
Steelers.com
Steelers quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields wait for a drill to start.
The pressure is on to fill the roster with quality talent on both sides of the ball. While Mike Tomlin loved Wilson's leadership ability, that can only take a player so far if they are not producing on the field. Even though Wilson wants to come back to Pittsburgh, the Steelers could have the same mindset as Mack and give Fields the starting job for the 2025 season.
Would it be a mistake to re-sign Wilson over Fields? Who do you want to be the Steelers' starting quarterback in the 2025 season? Let us know in the comments below!
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