Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin doesn’t care what anyone on the outside of his organization thinks or believes. He has even admitted that he purposefully tries to withhold information from the media for the betterment of the team. The Steelers’ 2024 offseason was heavily debated about who should be the starter for Pittsburgh—Russell Wilson or Justin Fields. Tomlin made it seem publicly like there was a legitimate quarterback competition, but apparently, it was always Wilson who was going to be the starter. Many Steelers fans suspected this, but Tomlin wouldn’t come out and confirm it until the last minute.
The speculation about Tomlin’s quarterback decision took a surprising turn when Wilson’s calf injury forced him to miss six games early in the season, giving Fields an unexpected opportunity to step up. Despite the unforeseen circumstances, Cam Heyward recently shed light on what was really happening behind the scenes. During an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Heyward revealed that Tomlin had been clear with the team from the very beginning that Wilson was their guy.
Heyward’s comments confirmed what many Steelers fans had already suspected—Tomlin’s public portrayal of a QB competition was more about protecting the team’s dynamics and strategy than reflecting reality. While the decision may have seemed abrupt to the media and fans, Tomlin’s transparency within the locker room ensured that the team knew exactly where they stood. Even with Wilson sidelined, it was clear that he was always Tomlin’s first choice to lead the offense according to Heyward's insight.
"You know he approached it where Mike T was transparent to begin with," Heyward said. "He said we have two quarterbacks could that could start anywhere and I'm going to give Russ the opportunity here… there was never a question of us questioning what he wanted. It was just like we have to make this guy look right and Russ and Justin have handled it beautifully."
Heyward revealed that Tomlin addressed the team in a meeting, where he announced his decision to bench a then 4-2 Fields in favor of the veteran Wilson once Wilson was healthy enough to return.
While the move was controversial at the time, it now appears to have been a smart decision in hindsight. Heyward’s insight into Tomlin’s transparency with the team offers an intriguing glimpse behind the curtain, confirming what many had suspected all along—Wilson was always intended to be the Steelers’ starter for the 2024 season.
"For the most part, Mike T is like, 'I make the decisions. It's up to [the players] to make them look right,'" Heyward said.
Heyward also emphasized that the team is fully committed to backing whatever decision Tomlin makes. Their respect and admiration for him run so deep that when he makes a major call, they feel an added responsibility to ensure it proves to be the right one.
For Heyward, who isn’t out on the field catching passes or blocking on offense, his way of supporting Tomlin’s vision is through his exceptional leadership on and off the field.
Steelers' Russell Wilson Has Proven To Be A Perfect Fit For Pittsburgh
Wilson has proven to be a perfect fit for Pittsburgh, not only because of his skills at quarterback but also due to his commanding leadership. Wilson’s presence has revitalized the offense, providing the guidance and stability that had been missing for several seasons. With Wilson leading the offense, Heyward anchoring the defense, and Tomlin steering the ship, this Steelers team has all the ingredients needed to make history and claim their seventh Super Bowl trophy.
It won’t be an easy road, but the foundation for success is firmly in place in the Steel City. Now, it’s up to the Steelers to execute the rest of the way and turn their potential into championship glory.
