Steelers' Mitch Trubisky tries to avoid becoming a 'caretaker quarterback'

Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky's career clearly is at a crossroads. Although he earned the starter's role, Pittsburgh fans are eager to see first-round pick Kenny Pickett, the former Pitt star, get playing time.

“Trubisky must find a way to play through the pressure to position himself for his future, a third act and a true second chance to be a franchise quarterback. Such is life as a caretaker quarterback,” ESPN NFL Nation Steelers reporter Brooke Pryor wrote.

Trubisky was once viewed as a franchise savior.

The Chicago Bears selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft over Patrick Mahomes. He looked like the future of the franchise in 2018, leading the Bears to the playoffs and making the Pro Bowl after passing for 24 TDs. However, he never threw for more than 20 TDs again for the Bears.

Trubisky departed Chicago after the 2020 season for Buffalo, where he served as backup last season to Josh Allen. In the offseason, the Steelers signed Trubisky as a free agent, but nothing is guaranteed for him.

Trubisky faces stiff competition from Pickett, who carried Pitt to its first conference championship in more than a decade last season, The fanbase is eager to see the college star play, but Trubisky plans to hold on to the starting gig.

“I don’t know about rebirth, but it’s definitely the next opportunity for me,” said Trubisky recently, per Pryor. 

In 2004, Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner experienced a similar situation with the New York Giants. Warner was expected to mentor Eli Manning on the Giants, but he focused mainly on saving his career. He advises Trubisky to do the same.

“When I went into that year, it was trying to parlay whatever I can into another opportunity to start to show people that I can play at this level,” Warner told Pryor. His plan worked.

Manning won a Super Bowl in the 2007 season, and Warner led the Cardinals to one the next season.