Ben Roethlisberger Reveals Who He Wants to See as Steelers QB
Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback and future Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger reiterated that he would like to see the Steelers run it back with Justin Fields. He thinks the young signal caller would be the best option for the Black and Gold moving forward.
“I’d like to see what Fields could do in another year of that offense. Whether you want to bring someone else in, let’s see what he can do in a second year of an offense,” Roethlisberger said on his Footbahlin podcast. “There’s some familiarity. He’s had a new system every year. He may be more comfortable. Obviously, we’re not taking into account contracts and all that kind of stuff. I’d like to see what Fields could do another year.”
Roethlisberger thinks the mobility component gives Fields an edge over Russell Wilson.
“Some of the mobility stuff would be interesting,” he said. “Know he’s got a good arm. Not taking anything away from Russ. Feels like Fields could be the pick for the future, if you wanted.”
Both players have strong cases that they should be starting quarterbacks next season, and that will probably happen. They just both can’t be that for the Steelers.
Fields threw for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and just one interception while leading the Steelers to a 4-2 start to the season. He also rushed for 231 yards and five touchdowns during the span.
Wilson, on the other hand, threw for 1,784 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions while going 6-1 before the team’s late-season collapse.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN believes Justin Fields if the front-runner over Wilson as the Steelers evaluate their 2025 quarterback situation.
“The sense I get is that Justin Fields has an edge over Russell Wilson in Pittsburgh’s pecking free agent quarterback order,” Fowler wrote in a news and notes column. “There is sentiment for Fields in the building, and both sides would be open to a return. The Steelers have at least another week to crystalize those plans, and they certainly haven’t ruled out Wilson at this point.”
Fowler thinks Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold could be a sleeper option for the Steelers in free agency. Darnold lacks the mobility that Mike Tomlin covets, but he did have an impressive showing in 2024, minus the last two games of the season.
“The Giants, Raiders and Titans are among the logical options. And I’m not totally discounting the Steelers here — not yet, at least,” Fowler wrote.
The mobility and age factor could be the reason why the Steelers favor Fields.
In addition, Wilson appears to have genuinely ruffled some feathers with the storylines coming out about his relationship with Arthur Smith after the season, and that has left a bad taste in the mouths of many around the team.
Despite that, and despite the fact that Fields is the preference, don’t rule out a Wilson return just yet.