Report: Steelers believed Justin Fields would offer a 'Mike Tomlin discount'

The Pittsburgh Steelers have lost out on the highest-regarded quarterbacks available in free agency. 

The most fitting option for the Steelers seemed to be keeping Justin Fields, but he reportedly agreed with the New York Jets on a two-year deal worth $40M, including $30M guaranteed. The six-game starter in the Steel City is off to try and lead the Jets out of the basement, while the Steelers have no clue who will be their guy for 2025 and beyond.  

NFL insider Gregg Rosenthal explained what the Steelers did wrong to make him leave them in favor of the Jets:

"The Steelers thought they'd get a Tomlin discount and NOPE. This is now bridge QB money and the Jets need one," Rosenthal wrote on social media.

When Fields was first put on the trading block in the 2024 offseason, he requested to go to the Steelers thanks to his affinity for head coach Mike Tomlin. However, spending a season with him has clearly changed his tune. It's rare to see someone willingly choose to play for the Jets over the Steelers, but that's the state of the team at this point, and money talks.

Fields got the starting job to begin the season in 2024, but Tomlin never wanted to commit to him. The moment that Russell Wilson got healthy enough to play, Fields was thrown onto the bench. After that, he only got a handful of plays the rest of the season, and it was mostly as a gadget player instead of as a quarterback. 

How could the Steelers expect Fields to take a "Tomlin discount" when the head coach refused to put any sort of faith in him? They could maybe expect Wilson to take that kind of discount, since Tomlin actually felt comfortable with starting him. 

This move should send a message to the Steelers about their 19th-year head coach: Tomlin is not the untouchable, uncriticizable legend that they fancy him to be. He may be a player's coach, but that can only take you so far, especially when you routinely prove that you have no faith in players, and not just Fields.