The Pittsburgh Steelers decided to sweep their quarterback room clean after the 2023 season and bring in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. While the original plan was for Wilson to start, he suffered an injury that sidelined him and gave Fields a shot at proving all of his doubters wrong.
Fields was drafted 11th overall by the Chicago Bears in 2021 out of Ohio State. He had been a standout in college, even named the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year, but his skills didn't seem to translate to the pros. He struggled to find his footing with the Bears. It wasn't clear if the issue was actually Fields, or if it was the lack of leadership within the Bears organization.
When the Bears decided to part ways with Fields after the 2023 season so they could draft Caleb Williams with the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the implication seemed to be that Fields was the problem. The media seemed to exacerbate this narrative by reporting that Fields wasn't the target of much interest from other NFL teams. There were reports that the Steelers and possibly the Philadelphia Eagles were interested.
Fields told his teammate Cameron Heyward when he joined the defensive tackle on his podcast, Not Just Football With Cam Heyward, that wasn't really the case. He said there was interest in him, and he was grateful that the Bears allowed him to decide where he was going to go.
"There were a lot of teams that already had solidified quarterbacks there, and I didn't want to do that," shared Fields. "I think the Chargers was one, the Ravens was another. The Ravens talked a little bit. But they already had a solidified quarterback; they just got a new contract, so I wasn't really trying to be there because I know how that shakes out."
Heyward asked Fields how he felt about the whole free agency process, and Fields said he suspected what was coming. He said when you make it to play in the pros, you have dealt with so many coaches that you can read between the lines.
"It was kind of tricky for me. I had a feeling that I was going to get traded after the season. You have your exit meetings and they kept it pretty brief. They said, 'You know we're in a tricky situation right here, a situation that we've never been in.' But we were in the same situation the year before because we had the number one picks the year before with the Panthers."
Fields said it was just two completely different conversations; the one at the end of the 2022 season and the one at the end of the 2023 season. He said there was nothing he could do but focus on himself, train, and hope for a new opportunity. He told Heyward he is truly glad he ended up in Pittsburgh, even if it did take longer than he expected. He added that watching all these other quarterbacks get taken and not getting the offer you wanted was stressful.
Will The Steelers Keep Justin Fields As Their Starter?
With Fields performing better each week and helping the Steelers win the first three games of the 2024 season, it feels like a no-brainer that he would just stay the starter. However, there are those who believe that Wilson will be given a shot to lead the team.
Head Coach Mike Tomlin has refused to label Fields the starter, saying that it is unnecessary. In many ways, this makes sense. Why add pressure to a young player who is building his confidence? If he struggles and has to be benched in favor of Wilson, it isn't as dramatic as "benching the starter" as it is just giving the original plan a shot.
Fields has impressed his teammates and his coaches with his cool demeanor and his professional attitude. He will likely get the chance to help the Steelers advance to 4-0 against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 4.
