The Pittsburgh Steelers gambled when they didn’t extend quarterback Justin Fields after acquiring him from the Chicago Bears last offseason.
Pittsburgh likely wanted more proof of concept from Fields before it gave him a raise from the $3.23 million he earned in the final year of his rookie deal in 2024.
The 26-year-old led the Steelers to a 4-2 record last year, passing for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and an interception while rushing for 289 yards and five more scores before getting benched once Russell Wilson was fully healthy.
Despite him watching the Steelers’ playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens from, and finishing the season on the bench, Fields was reportedly a big part of the team’s plan for next season.
But Fields agreed to a two-year, $40 million deal with the New York Jets on Monday—the unofficial start to free agency—prompting the Steelers to pivot to their Plan B. And now a new report from Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reveals why Fields decided against coming back for another year in Pittsburgh.
“Yes, internally, the Steelers did want Fields to be their quarterback in 2025 … but they also wanted him back at their price,” DeFabo wrote. “When the New York Jets offered a two-year, $40 million deal with $30 million guaranteed, the quarterback the Steelers benched after a 4-2 start to the season moved on.”
ESPN's Adam Schefter also reported a few hours before Fields signed with the Jets on Monday that he wouldn't sign with the Steelers unless they guaranteed he would be their starter in 2025 — something they presumably weren't comfortable doing at the salary he wanted.
The Steelers likely wanted Fields to sign a deal closer to what Spotrac’s projected market value for him is ($6.4 million per year) than the $20 million-per-year-average he signed with the Jets.
Multiple reports indicated that Fields wanted to entertain offers in free agency while keeping the Steelers on the back burner; however, it’s believed the Jets were the only other team that made the former first-round pick a serious offer.
