The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially lost out on the highest regarded quarterbacks available in free agency. The most fitting option seemed to be keeping Justin Fields, but he signed with the New York Jets on a two-year deal worth $40 million, including $30 million guaranteed. The six-game starter in the Steel City is off to try and lead the Jets out of the basement, while the Steelers have no clue who will be their guy for 2025 and beyond.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Justin Fields celebrates a touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024.
NFL Insider Gregg Rosenthal explained what the Steelers did wrong to make him leave them in favor of the Jets.
"The Steelers thought they'd get a Tomlin discount and NOPE. This is now bridge QB money and the Jets need one," said Rosenthal.
When Fields was first put on the trading block in the 2024 offseason, he requested to go to the Steelers thanks to his affinity for Head Coach Mike Tomlin. However, spending a season with him has clearly changed his tune. It's rare to see someone willingly choose to play for the Jets over the Steelers, but that's the state of the team at this point and money talks.
Fields got the starting job to begin the season in 2024, but Tomlin never wanted to commit to him. The moment that Russell Wilson got healthy enough to play, Fields was thrown onto the bench. After that, he only got a handful of plays the rest of the season, and it was mostly as a gadget player instead of as a quarterback.
@coachtomlin / Instagram
Steelers' Mike Tomlin smiles with QB Justin Fields after he won the home run derby.
How could the Steelers expect Fields to take a "Tomlin discount" when the head coach refused to put any sort of faith in him? They could maybe expect Wilson to take that kind of discount, since Tomlin actually felt comfortable with starting him.
This move should send a message to the Steelers about their 19th-year head coach: Tomlin is not the untouchable, uncriticizable legend that they fancy him to be. He may be a player's coach, but that can only take you so far, especially when you routinely prove that you have no faith in players, and not just Fields.
Steelers' Young Quarterbacks Are Not Trusted At All
The whole thing about Fields not having any say in the offense has nothing to do with him at all. This is a common occurrence, and it's why no quarterback ever seems to develop in Pittsburgh lately. Fields never had the ability to change the play. Even if it made sense to audible into a different play, there was no chance of that happening. Kenny Pickett was also given this restriction during his time in Pittsburgh, and he also felt slighted by the team. Who knows about how guys like Mason Rudolph and Josh Dobbs felt while trying to grow as a quarterback.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks Josh Dobbs (#5) and Mason Rudolph (#2) look on together during a practice in Pittsburgh, PA. | Peter Diana / Post-Gazette
Like with Pickett, Tomlin's hand was forced to have Fields start games, even though it was different circumstances. Pickett never received first-team reps until Mitch Trubisky got into an argument with Diontae Johnson in the locker room. He became the starting quarterback before ever receiving first-team reps, while Tomlin took the first chance he got to bench Fields for a veteran.
The Steelers will never develop a franchise quarterback with this mindset. Yes, these young passers will make errors in judgement, but that's how they learn and grow. Tomlin is too busy living in his fears to let this happen. Elite veteran quarterbacks are rarely ever available, whether it's the trade block or the open market. Until he allows his young quarterbacks to develop properly, he should never expect one take a "Tomlin discount."
What do you think about the Steelers' alleged assumptions about their proposed deal with Fields, as well as the team's inability to develop quarterbacks in recent years? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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