Tomlin: Justin Fields ‘Certainly’ in Mix as Steelers 2025 Starting QB
Stuck behind veteran Russell Wilson for most of this season, Justin Fields carried himself in a manner of which Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin took notice.
Fields started the first six games of the campaign, posting a 4-2 record before Wilson recovered from a calf ailment that had sidelined him for that duration. Wilson never relinquished the No. 1 spot on the depth chart the rest of the way, but the way Fields filled the understudy role impressed Tomlin.
“Certainly,” Tomlin answered during a Tuesday afternoon press conference when asked if Fields had shown him enough for him to be in the mix for the pole position at signal-caller next season.
The Steelers enter the off-season without a quarterback under contract on their roster. Both Wilson and Fields are due for free agency. The latter is over 10 years younger than the former.
“I think he took (the steps),” Tomlin said of Fields. “I think the way that he managed his professional circumstance was really impressive. I thought he brought an urgency to his day-to-day work regardless of his role. I thought he got continually better within our system of ball throughout the process. I thought the way that he conducted himself makes that a legitimate thought or idea at this juncture.”
Justin Fields arrived in Pittsburgh by way of a trade with Chicago the day before St. Patrick’s Day. He was the 11th overall choice in the 2021 NFL Draft and went 10-28 in his three seasons with the Bears, who decided to instead roll with Caleb Williams behind center.
With the Steelers this season, Fields completed 106 of his 161 pass attempts and went for 1,106 yards through the air. He had five passing touchdowns compared to one interception. Justin Fields added a threat on the ground, as well, rushing for 289 yards and five touchdowns on 62 carries. He was used sparingly as a designed rusher once Wilson was healthy.
Read This Next
