The Pittsburgh Steelers completely shifted the state of the quarterback room during the 2024 offseason. The two big names brought in were Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, and both have done an excellent job in their first seasons with the organization. It's going to be hard for the franchise to keep the duo in 2025, so the final stretch of the regular season will be crucial for the front office and coaching staff. Fields led the team to a record of 4-2 in the first six games. Then, Wilson took over after recovering from a calf injury, and has a mark of 6-1 since.
There was a large crowd calling for Head Coach Mike Tomlin to keep Fields in the starting lineup, even with Wilson healthy, but now the leader of the team could end up being the AP Coach of the Year because of his decision to insert the veteran into the huddle in Week 7. It was noted throughout the offseason that Wilson was in "pole position" to be the starter, but that narrative was tested after Fields' strong play in the first six weeks.
The Steelers traded with the Chicago Bears, sending a conditional sixth-round pick to the NFC foe for Fields, and it worked out extremely well for Pittsburgh. The draft compensation will turn into a fourth-round selection if Fields plays 50% of the offensive snaps in the regular season. In the grand scheme of things, if Fields turned into the franchise quarterback, a day three pick would be nothing to worry about, but now, fans may be treated to some more of the dynamic signal-caller on the field.
Entering Week 15, Fields has officially played less than 50% of the offensive snaps, and according to Pro Football Reference, is at 45.73%. The Steelers have been comfortable sending Wilson out for nearly every snap, despite calls for Fields' athleticism to be used more often. Pittsburgh is averaging roughly 68.5 offensive snaps per game, so as long as Wilson stays healthy, Fields can theoretically be much more involved in the offense moving forward without the risk of losing a fourth-rounder.
Fields' total of 407 snaps has him comfortably under the 50% mark, and that will continue to go down as long as Wilson plays nearly every offensive snap. With that said, Pittsburgh can be a little more free to throw him out there now that he is under the percentage that was agreed upon with the Bears. Sure, an unfortunate injury to Wilson could occur and change the situation, but for now, the Steelers will just owe Chicago a sixth-round pick.
Another interesting piece to this is recognizing that there are only four games left in 2024. The most Fields has played in a contest since giving the starting job to Wilson was seven snaps against the Cleveland Browns in Week 12. That could ramp up as each game becomes increasingly more important as the team looks to win the AFC North.
There is very little tape of Fields coming off the bench since Week 7, so the right time and place could warrant the usage of the athletic quarterback. It hasn't been solidified that the Steelers will only have to give up a sixth to the Bears, but as each week passes, it becomes more likely. On top of that, now that Fields is under the 50% threshold, he could be called upon more aggressively in December and into January.
Steelers Will Have Tough Time Brining Back Both Fields And Wilson
Pittsburgh's offseason is still underrated when it comes to the quarterback position. Unfortunately, the two players have had the opportunity to put enough tape out there in 2024. Thus, the signal-callers are likely to both have an opportunity to start in 2025. One will likely be in the Steel City, while the other will find a new home in free agency.
