A team’s culture sets the standard for what goes on in that building daily. Look at all the top teams in the NFL, and while they undoubtedly have great talent, they will have similarly impressive cultures. Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has always been praised for his excellent culture and ability to get the most out of his teams. Players coming from elsewhere can experience culture shock. For example, new Steelers quarterback Justin Fields is experiencing that firsthand.
At the mandatory minicamp, he talked about the differences he sees in Pittsburgh compared to the Bears under Matt Eberflus. Eberflus is still a fledgling NFL head coach, while the Steelers have a deep-rooted expectation and culture set by Tomlin and enforced by Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and others across the team. That can be beneficial for someone like Fields, who wants to learn and wash away the past.
“Me being in two different places now, I realize you don’t get this culture everywhere,” Fields said . “I think Chicago, they’re kind of changing the narrative now, but this has been the culture there for so many years. You can see it, just the way that we attack each and every day. Coach (Mike Tomlin), he stays on us about it, so I think just having that, reiterating that each and every day, that keeps guys on their toes. Guys are ready to compete every day.”
For Fields, he competes with Russell Wilson, but just as much as he is competing with Wilson, he is also a mentee of Wilson’s. It seems he has taken to that exceptionally well. When talking about Fields’ spring, his attentiveness in the meeting room and willingness to learn from Wilson will be to his aid.
Wilson got nearly all the first-team reps in the ‘pole position’ spot Tomlin dubbed him in during March. It seems that will continue into the start of training camp. But if Fields wants to grow and revive his NFL career after being traded out of Chicago, a strong culture like the Steelers in a solid bet to do it.
