The Pittsburgh Steelers are a predictable and safe organization that has tendencies that cannot be denied or disputed. They have not fired a head coach since 1968 and no man who has ever been the head coach of the Steelers has been hired by another organization to become their head coach since their inception in 1933. The biggest tradition of all might be that the Steelers are really bad at managing quarterbacks not named Ben Roethlisberger.
The Steelers, with the notable exception of Roethlisberger, have benched virtually every starting quarterback, from Terry Bradshaw to Kordell Stewart, for performance at some point in their tenure as Pittsburgh quarterbacks. It wasn't any better before Bradshaw. Two years after cutting Johnny Unitas, the Steelers' quarterback room featured Earl Morrall, Len Dawson, and Jack Kemp. Pittsburgh cut or traded all of them over the next three seasons.
Young fans should not be confused that the potential Kenny Pickett miss by the Steelers is an aberration. Mike Tomlin inherited Roethlisberger, and there was no need to look elsewhere for 15 years. He is relatively new at mismanaging his quarterbacks, but he certainly isn't alone. On Tuesday, Mike Florio from Pro Football Talk joined The Pat McAfee Show and confirmed what many have not accepted yet. Tomlin and, by extension, Arthur Smith are committed to Pickett in 2024, and only Mason Rudolph (if he returns), can seriously challenge him.
The oddsmakers, many national pundits, and most social media users are under the impression that the Steelers are going to sign Russell Wilson, Kirk Cousins or pull off a trade for Justin Fields. Florio, who has lived near Pittsburgh for most of his life and is dialed in more than most national voices to the Steelers, explained that at some point, fans have to accept that local writers know what they are talking about. Even if they don't like it.
"Last week in Indianapolis, one of the things I picked up from talking to people, this isn't some bit by the Steelers," Florio continued. "This fits with how they are. They don't go out and make a big splash in free agency. They try to groom the guys they have. They gave Terry Bradshaw five years to figure out how to play quarterback in the NFL and it worked."
The Bradshaw argument is advanced a lot on social media and by older fans. The Steelers' only number-one draft choice in over half a century struggled mightily during his first five seasons in the NFL. It is hard to say Chuck Noll was patient with Bradshaw because he yanked him for Terry Hanratty and Joe Gilliam multiple times early in his career.
Bradshaw paid off with four Super Bowl championships in six seasons. It is hard to say patience has worked for the Steelers since. Mark Malone, Neil O'Donnell, and Stewart are all examples of what the futility of patience with below-average quarterbacks gets you in the NFL - heartbreak in the biggest games and some of the most painful losses in team history.
The allusion that the Steelers will remain patient with Pickett because of Bradshaw ignores one fact. The rookie salary structure makes it impossible to give a young quarterback more than three years to find his way. The Steelers have not faced this situation before because Roethlisberger was the established starter when it was adopted.
"Here they are, less than two years removed from using a first-round pick on Kenny Pickett," Florio concluded. They like what Mason Rudolph did. He's due to become a free agent. I think they are committed to Pickett versus Rudolph, and one of those two guys is going to be the starter in Week 1. Any veteran they bring in would just be another guy to be part of that conversation, but not a viable contender to start."
The multiple rumors about the potential Steelers quarterback are dizzying and sometimes nauseating. Could the Steelers sign an over-the-hill name like Wilson or Cousins? It's possible. Omar Khan operates much differently than his predecessors. However, he still answers to Art Rooney II and might not have the juice to dictate who Tomlin wants to bring in as serious competition for Pickett in 2024.
Steelers Less And Less Likely To Take Advantage Of Available Upgrades To 2023 Quarterback Room
Khan fleeced the Chicago Bears in 2023 when he traded Chase Claypool for the 32nd pick in the 2023 NFL Draft (which ended up being Joey Porter Jr.). The Bears could be harboring a grudge and be determined to price the Steelers out of the Fields market. The Steelers general manager is not likely to pay a hefty price for Fields considering the monetary investment the Steelers would have to make in him for 2025.
Someone will line up under center for the Steelers on opening day in 2024. Khan will sign or draft at least three more quarterbacks before training camp begins. The Steelers usually start training camp with at least four quarterbacks. The only thing we can say for sure at this point is that Mitch Trubisky will not be one of them. We think.
More must-reads: