“It’s not personal… It’s strictly business.” Funny how that Godfather line perfectly sums up the vibes in Steel City right now. Not too long ago, the Steelers Nation was against Coach Mike Tomlin’s decision to roll with Russell Wilson over Justin Fields. And now? Russ is the toast of the town with the latest buzz seeing a focal shift from mere stats to his future. As non-sensical as its longstanding policy of not pitching player contracts during regular seasons may sound, the Steelers won’t have to entertain the idea even if they were tempted to do so. Why bother, after all, when one can piggybank on the other?
Last season, when the Broncos cut Wilson with three games left to play, he quickly signed with the Steelers. But Denver is still paying $38 million of his salary in 2024. This is where Pittsburgh’s policy of not signing contracts during the regular season comes in. Per NBC Sports, a new deal during the 2024 campaign would result in the guaranteed money courtesy of the Broncos reducing. So, the Steelers will have to make up for the offset in the $38 million, a situation they would want to avoid. That said, if a deal is in the cards, would Wilson actually take a pay cut just to stick around?
Well, according to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Brian Batko, that could be the case. Seeing as the Steelers signed Wilson on a one-year contract for 2024. They also signed Fields from Bears, who is in the final year of the contract. So, the question is: Who will return to Pittsburgh in 2025? Well, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini believes Russell Wilson will be back.
While revealing what she knew about another veteran quarterback’s future (Aaron Rodgers in the Jets), she wrote, “The free-agent QB market is lacking, with Sam Darnold and Russell Wilson among the top names — though Wilson is expected to stay with the Steelers and the Vikings could decide to keep Darnold if he’s willing to be a backup.” On 93.7 The Fan, Brian Batko seemingly confirmed the fact that the 35-year-old will wear black and gold again next season.
When asked about Russini’s proclamation, he said, “I could see it. I’ll humor you and say, 60% Russell Wilson returns.” But Batko even floated the idea of a 3-year, $75 million deal, especially since Russ took the league minimum to play in Steel City this season. “I do think that at this stage of his career, he wouldn’t necessarily hold them over a barrel trying to get every penny. I think he would take a little less if this offense and this team is getting more out of him than we saw in Denver.”
So, you see, it’s not a stretch to think that Mr. Clutch could actually want to cement his legacy more than he’d be doing after that paycheck. Now, with the Steelers sitting at 8-3, Wilson’s leadership seems to be the glue holding this team together. But let’s be real—at 35, Russ isn’t here to rewrite his legacy; he’s here to protect it.
But what about Justin Fields? In 6 games as a starter this season, the 25-year-old has thrown for 1,106 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 1 interception, with a passer rating of 93.9. As for Russ, in 5 games as a starter, he’s registered 1,212 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions with a passer rating of 98.6. This is to say that while Wilson may be nearing the end of his career, Fields has the peak years of his career ahead of him. Yet, Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger had a curveball suggestion: line Fields up as a wide receiver.
On his Footbahlin’ podcast, Big Ben mused, “I would like to see him [line] up at receiver a couple of times. Put him in different spots. Because what that does, even if you don’t do anything with it, anytime you can force an opponent to spend five minutes on something that they might never see, it takes [opponents] away from preparing for what they will see.” Could you imagine Fields running routes? It’s unconventional, sure, but so is Steelers football lately. Interestingly, in the offseason, when he was gunning for QB1, Fields was seen playing in a different position.
He was returning punts during camp, and when asked about it, Fields said, “Nah, I’m not here to do that. It was kind of a joke, to be honest with you.” But if the Steelers confirm Russell Wilson as the QB1 for 2025, could it be possible that the 25-year-old might give wide receiver a try? He sure has the build for it. However, going by his comments during camp, the quarterback position is what he wants. And if he doesn’t get it, is there a possibility he may leave?
Considering the Steelers’ policy of not signing contracts once the regular season starts, if Wilson is to get a new (team-friendly) deal, it’ll be after the season is over. The same applies to Fields. But let’s circle back to Diana Russini’s revelation about Aaron Rodgers. According to her, the 41-year-old wants to continue playing… just not with the Jets. If Rodgers departs at the end of the season, replacing him would be the New York-based franchise’s top priority. And who knows? Considering Justin Fields is a potential target, as Russini reported, the Jets could very well snap him up.
Coming back to Roethlisberger’s suggestion about Justin Fields trying out the wide receiver role, it’s like saying, ‘Hey kid, the way Russ has got fans united, you better look for other options.’ It’s harsh, but that’s what #3 has brought under center. However, not everyone’s hopping onto the Russell Wilson hype train just yet.
Cam Newton is not letting Russell Wilson’s good form ‘fool’ him
No one’s denying that this Russell Wilson resurgence might very well be smoke and mirrors. But at the end of the day, the goal is to get the Ws, and Russ has the Steelers playing winning football. But Cam Newton cares enough to let Wilson know his true feelings about his game so far.
On his 4th and 1 podcast, Newton dropped the ultimate shade, saying, “Russell Wilson is being carried by the Pittsburgh Steelers.” That’s a bold claim, right? Sure, the Steelers’ defense and kicker, Chris Boswell, have been clutch. But Wilson’s 4-1 record since his return from injury isn’t just smoke and mirrors. Still, Cam seems unimpressed. And he didn’t stop there.
He called out the Steelers’ opponents, dismissing wins against teams like the Jets and Commanders as not exactly heavyweight matchups. Hmm… Interesting take. Last we checked, the Steelers have the eighth-toughest schedule this season, with opponents boasting a combined .567 winning percentage. Meanwhile, Wilson has quietly put up 7 touchdowns, only 2 picks, and a 98.6 passer rating, ranking him above the likes of Mahomes and Stafford. Not bad for a guy who, according to Cam, is just “not losing the game.”
I mean, yes, some struggles come with it and the Browns picked up on those weaknesses quite well during their 24-19 victory over Pittsburgh. But the game’s all about covering the loopholes. Give time, and Wilson will cover his red-zone struggles as well. As for Fields? There shouldn’t be any doubts about him being the “future of the franchise.” At least, Mike Tomlin has said that time and again.