Still Replacing Ben Roethlisberger
For 18 years, Ben Roethlisberger was a Pittsburgh Steeler. Big Ben was just that, 6’5” and 240 pounds. When the pocket was collapsing around him, you could still see Ben, standing tall, searching for a way out to run or find an open receiver. He was a warrior, not bending over to take a less violent sack and move on to the next play.
Ben won OROY in 2004 and was the youngest Super Bowl winning QB in 2006. He took the Steelers to three Super Bowls, winning two in his career. He threw for 64,088 yards and 418 TD. The 6-time pro bowler was an icon in Pittsburgh and the NFL. Ben retired in 2022, and the Steelers have been trying to find his replacement ever since. How hard can it really be to replace your franchise quarterback, and why has it taken so long?
In 2022 they started Kenny Pickett and Mitchell Trubisky. In 2023 it was Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, and Mitchell Trubisky. In 2024 Justin Fields started due to an injury sustained by Russell Wilson. Pittsburgh has two former starting quarterbacks on the roster this year, but the real question is, who will be the long-term solution for the Steelers. Will it be Fields or Wilson, or are they short term stop gaps while the search continues?
In the NFL Draft, the average number of quarterbacks selected has been 11.6 since 2014. Each year quarterbacks hit free agency, and teams have a shot at veteran experience. So why is it so hard to get a franchise quarterback?
Drafting a quarterback to be your successful starter is a huge gamble, especially for a team with sustained success: the Steelers have not had a losing season since 2003. This is an amazing stat to be proud of in today’s NFL. As far as drafting a quarterback for the Steelers, at best you are looking at a mid-first round selection, which means you are unlikely to draft a player to start Week 1. If the GM of the team has no plans to work a trade to move up in the draft and is content to continue with the status quo, then obtaining a winning season becomes the only goal and hopefully a playoff spot. But how long do players, coaches and FANS stay content with that mindset?
Another way, of course, is through free agency. In free agency, players with expiring contracts can freely negotiate and sign with other teams. Teams can also trade players. Players from the UFL are available as well. Sometimes a change of atmosphere for a player can make a dramatic difference, but again, Pittsburgh’s GM, Omar Khan, would have to work out an offer to entice a player to sign. This past offseason the Steelers obtained QB Russell Wilson and QB Justin Fields. Could one of these players be “the guy”?
Let us look at what the Steelers have done to obtain a starting quarterback via the draft and free agency. In the 2022 NFL draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Kenny Pickett 20th overall in Round 1. In two seasons Pickett completed 62.6% of his passes, threw for 4,474 yards with 13 TD and 13 INT with a QB rating of 78.8. Pickett was also sacked 50 times. The Steelers were 14-11 with Kenny Pickett. He was not the long-term solution, so he was traded with a 2024 fourth round pick for a 2024 third round pick and two seventh round picks in the 2025 draft. Kenny Pickett is now a backup quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles.
In March 2024, the Steelers signed Russell Wilson to a 1-year contract in which the Denver Broncos are paying him $38 million to play in Pittsburgh, while the Steelers are paying him just $1 million. Also, in March, the Steelers acquired Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears via trade for a 2025 sixth round pick.
The quarterback controversy has simmered throughout the summer, and it is likely to continue throughout the regular season. Wilson and Fields both had opportunities to separate themselves and win the job, but neither was able to outperform the other by a significant margin.
On July 24, Russell Wilson injured his calf. Three weeks and two days later he played in the second preseason game. He reinjured his calf on September 5, prompting Justin Fields to start the season. It is possible Wilson will not be ready before Week 4. After Week 2, the Steelers remain undefeated at 2-0 and host the also unbeaten Los Angeles Chargers.
To date Justin Fields is 30/43 for 273 yards with a 69.8% completion ratio. He has 1 passing TD and 0 interceptions and has been sacked 4 times. He has rushed 22 times for 84 yards and 6 first downs. He has a QB rating of 94.4. These statistics are not groundbreaking, but the team is winning as he is adjusting. Will Justin Fields keep getting better and be the franchise QB? Will coach Tomlin insert Russell Wilson as soon as he is healthy to take over the starting position?
NFL fans and Steelers fans, especially, will just have to wait to see who management decides to name as their starter. After what Fields has shown over the past two weeks, he has earned the starting position. In my opinion, he should stay in that position and grow with the team. After all, a win is a win for the Steelers who are Still Replacing Ben Roethlisberger.
