Russell Wilson comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers during a rough time for the franchise. The Steelers have a strong team, and some good players, but the quarterback position has been a problem for several seasons.
There was enough blame to go around in 2023. Some pundits pointed to now-departed offensive coordinator Matt Canada as the main issue. Others called out quarterbacks Kenny Pickett and Mitchell Trubisky.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was not without reproach. It was especially telling at the end of the season when third-string quarterback Mason Rudolph led the team into the playoffs and seemed to have been their best bet all along. It prompted some fans to wonder if the Steelers, and Tomlin, know what they are doing when evaluating quarterback talent.
The fact is, Mike Tomlin inherited Ben Roethlisberger when he took over as Steelers head coach in 2007. Roethlisberger was a trusted presence at quarterback for most of Tomlin’s career in Pittsburgh. In the time since Big Ben’s retirement, the Steelers have seemed adrift, unable to find the next franchise quarterback or even commit to a starter for any significant period.
Mike Tomlin and the Steelers need that to change in 2024. He has suggested that Wilson will be the starter, but if the past is any indicator of the future, that is far from written in stone.
The Steelers brought in Russell Wilson to do a job, and here are three reasons Tomlin needs to ensure he gets it done.
Here’s Why Mike Tomlin Needs Russell Wilson to Start
1. Stability
When Russell Wilson signed with the Steelers, certain expectations fell into place. This is the guy, at least for 2024. Wilson brought some fresh air to a fan base that desperately needed it. Certainly, the players in the Steelers organization must feel this as well.
Then came the Justin Fields trade.
Wilson can’t lose a quarterback competition to Fields, nor can he be on a short hook with Fields looming over his shoulder all season. With Wilson, the Steelers can once again have stability at the quarterback position, at least for one season.
For the sake of the locker room, and maybe Mike Tomlin’s future in Pittsburgh, Russell Wilson needs to be the starter in 2024.
2. Leadership
Russell Wilson is a 12-year veteran and nine-time Pro Bowler with 188 career starts and a Super Bowl ring. Justin Fields is a young quarterback who struggled during his first three seasons in the NFL. Which guy does Mike Tomlin want leading his offense and setting an example for the team?
If Fields takes over the starting quarterback position, Russell Wilson immediately loses some of the locker room presence the Steelers desperately need from their quarterback. Of course, he can be a leader and a professional by supporting his young understudy, but that’s not why he came to Pittsburgh.
Wilson’s leadership will play a major role in the 2024 season, and Mike Tomlin’s typical waffling on who should be the starting quarterback can’t undercut it. Sink or swim, it has to be Wilson.
3. A Short Window
According to most reports, Steelers fans have reacted positively to GM Omar Khan’s impressive roster moves during the 2024 offseason. With the addition of Russell Wilson, the Steelers now have a genuine chance at winning a championship. Adding Justin Fields into the mix has brought in a potential foundation for the future of the Pittsburgh offense.
But these signings and Kenny Pickett’s departure delay the hunt for Ben Roethlisberger’s successor, at least for another season.
Even if Wilson plays well, and signs a new contract after the 2024 season, he will turn 36 in November. Maybe Pittsburgh can get a few good seasons out of him before he retires, but he is not the guy for the long term.
Maybe Justin Fields is the franchise quarterback the Steelers are looking for, but with Wilson on the roster, we’ll need to wait at least another year before we find out.
Whatever happens, Mike Tomlin and the Steelers need Russell Wilson to be the man now. The window is short, the Steelers expect him to win, and if he doesn’t start, 2024 will be one more year of Mike Tomlin’s career wasted.
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