Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin made a massive gamble when he decided to bench the 4-2 quarterback Justin Fields in favor of Russell Wilson. In the 2024 offseason, the Steelers brought in both Wilson and Fields to compete for the starting job, but it was likely always Wilson's job. Wilson was named the starter before Week 1, but a calf injury kept him sidelined. Fields performed well in Wilson's absence, leading the Steelers to a strong start. However, Tomlin was eager to see what Wilson could bring to the offense once healthy.
In the Week 7 home game against the New York Jets, Wilson made his much-anticipated debut, but things got ugly quickly. After a couple of poor offensive drives, frustration built in the stadium, and Wilson, along with the rest of the offense, was showered with boos from the home crowd. The Steelers' offensive struggles were apparent, and the fans made their displeasure known. Wilson, facing immense pressure to deliver, continued to fight through the adversity on the field.
Former Steelers legendary quarterback Ben Roethlisberger discussed the situation on his podcast Monday, sharing his perspective on Wilson's difficult first few drives. Roethlisberger described what impressed him about Wilson during the game, specifically his resilience in the face of adversity.
"He faced difficulties early in that game," Roethlisberger said on his Footbahlin podcast. "Heard the stadium boo. The first time he's in that stadium in a regular season game and they're booing him. That's not good for ego, for pride, for a man, especially a leader of a team."
Despite the boos and the rough start, Wilson didn’t shy away from the challenge.
According to Roethlisberger, Wilson's ability to keep his composure under pressure was a sign of his veteran experience, and he believes that this tough moment could be a turning point for Wilson’s season.
"And the fact that he was able to, I'm sure, know who he is and his identity and his faith and his belief and trust in himself… He was able to overcome that difficulty. Where a lot of people probably would just shrink back and end up being worse."
Roethlisberger was particularly impressed with how Wilson handled the hostile start. He recounted moments from his own career when he faced boos from Steelers fans and shared the emotions and thoughts that ran through his mind in those situations.
"I've been booed," Roethlisberger said. "I've been booed in Heinz Field before and it's one of the worst feelings because you're going out there to play for your teammates, but you're also playing for the fans. They're the ones that pay that wanna see you play and when they're booing you, I get mad. Not at them, at myself because I'm giving them a reason to boo and I hate that I'm doing that and so Russ is probably thinking like, this is the worst, but I know what I'm capable of."
Roethlisberger emphasized that hearing boos from your own crowd is one of the toughest challenges for a quarterback, but he admired how Wilson stayed focused and didn't let the noise shake his confidence. For Roethlisberger, Wilson’s ability to keep his head up and push forward despite the crowd’s frustration showed a level of mental toughness that could serve him well as the season progresses.
Wilson found his rhythm, finishing the game with 264 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and one rushing touchdown. Roethlisberger praised Wilson’s performance, saying he played a strong game for his first start of the 2024 season. He was particularly impressed with how Wilson never backed down in the face of adversity, showing resilience and composure throughout.
Steelers' Russell Wilson Isn't New To Adversity
The past two seasons were rough for Wilson during his time with the Denver Broncos. He managed to win just 11 games over that stretch, falling from the ranks of elite quarterbacks to becoming the subject of jokes.
Despite the criticism and unfair treatment, Wilson hasn’t said much about his struggles in Denver, but his ability to handle adversity is undeniable. On Sunday night, he proved he’s built for tough moments, and that resolve was on full display against the Jets.
If Wilson can continue playing at the level he showed in Week 7, the Steelers could be a serious contender in 2024. His performance against the Jets was a reminder of his talent and leadership, and with the right momentum, he could help lead Pittsburgh deep into the postseason.
