The Pittsburgh Steelers made the shocking move to welcome in three new quarterbacks to the Steel City in the 2024 offseason in Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and Kyle Allen. Wilson and Fields stole all the attention, with Fields impressing early by starting the season 4-2 and showing promise for the Pittsburgh offense. His opportunity came only because Wilson was sidelined with a calf injury, but his strong performance created a quarterback controversy.
Despite Fields’ solid play, Head Coach Mike Tomlin made the unpopular decision to name Wilson the starter once he returned, a choice that now seems to have paid off. Wilson has been exceptional, going 5-1 as the starter and leading the Steelers to a 9-3 record. His ability to open up the offense and put up impressive stats has breathed new life into the team’s attack, giving Pittsburgh an offensive edge it has sorely missed in recent seasons.
Now, with both quarterbacks playing at a high level, the Steelers face a crucial decision for their future. CBS Insider Jonathan Jones revealed on Sunday morning that Pittsburgh wants to keep both Fields and Wilson beyond the 2024 season. However, that may not be feasible. The team will have to weigh its options and decide which quarterback offers the best long-term solution while navigating the complexities of keeping both in the fold.
"The Steelers have a desire to retain both Russ and Justin Fields, but you have to imagine they're only gonna going to be able to keep one," Jones said. "Now, I polled several execs about what Russ' next contract will be, and it could be in the high twenties or low thirties."
Jones admitted in his recent report that the Pittsburgh brass would love to find a way to keep both Fields and Wilson, but the situation is complicated. Given how well Fields performed early in the year, his market value has likely risen, making him a more expensive option.
Both quarterbacks are likely to come with a hefty price tag. While the Denver Broncos are covering most of Wilson’s salary for this season, the Steelers will face a different reality once the year ends. If Pittsburgh wants to retain Wilson, they’ll need to offer him a new deal.
Based on Jones’ league-wide insights, Wilson's next contract is expected to be far from cheap. It wouldn't make sense for the Steelers to allocate significant resources to two quarterbacks, especially with Wilson’s age now at 36. While he’s playing at a high level, no one knows how much longer he can maintain this prime form.
In contrast, Fields, who is just 25, offers a long-term future for Pittsburgh, though he still lacks the polished skills that Wilson brings to the table. The Steelers’ decision will be a tough one, balancing immediate performance with future potential.
Steelers' Russell Wilson Might Be Open To Team-Friendly Deal
In an ideal world, the Steelers would keep both quarterbacks, but that’s unlikely to happen. It will be fascinating to see what decision Pittsburgh makes when the time comes to choose their future at quarterback. Wilson, understanding that he's not getting any younger, may recognize that he’s found the perfect home in Pittsburgh.
After seeing how things have gone elsewhere, he might not want to leave the Steel City. There’s a possibility that he could take a team-friendly deal to help the Steelers build a championship-contending roster, benefiting both himself and the team as they aim for Super Bowl glory.
