Why Russell Wilson has a lock on Steelers' QB1 role

With Pittsburgh Steelers OTAs under way, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are together as teammates for the first time. As the veteran and young quarterback get acquainted and throw passes to their new receivers, many are speculating on Pittsburgh's quarterback competition. 

However, no matter what people may say, the Steelers' starting quarterback job is Wilson's to lose. Fields might be saying all the right things, such as "we're competing out there every day, trying to get better" and working as if he's the QB1, but the writing already appears to be on the wall. 

Pittsburgh's quarterback room makeover has become one of the more intriguing stories of the offseason. Gone are Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph and Mitch Trubisky and in are Wilson, Fields and Kyle Allen.

For good reason, as Wilson and Fields are considered upgrades over their predecessors. Pickett and Rudolph combined to throw for 2,789 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023. Conversely, Fields (with Chicago) and Wilson (with Denver) combined for 5,632 yards and 42 touchdown passes. 

Wilson is signed to a low-risk deal, with the Denver Broncos on the hook for most of his salary, and the Steelers only had to give up a conditional sixth-round pick for Fields.   

Either option would be an improvement from what the Steelers had at QB last season. It's also clear Wilson will be the starter when the Steelers kick off the season in Atlanta on Sept. 8.  

Two-time Super Bowl champion and former Steeler Bryant McFadden, who maintains a close relationship with Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin, supported this thinking recently on the "Mike Drop" podcast. 

"I think this is Russell's job to lose, because if you were to compare Russell's 2023 season to Justin Fields' 2023 season, Russell was the better quarterback." said McFadden, now a CBS Sports NFL analyst.

Added the former cornerback: "Russell will be the starting quarterback as long as he's ballin'." 

Most importantly, Tomlin still believes Wilson has something left in the tank. And unless Wilson shows a reason for Tomlin to stop feeling that way, there's no reason to not at least start the season with the 12-year veteran at QB. 

Those who have been paying attention to how Tomlin has handled his quarterbacks since Ben Roethlisberger retired know he prefers to first lean on the more experienced player and then make a change when needed. It's why he initially turned to Trubisky over Pickett in 2022. 

Wilson — who played in two Super Bowls with Seattle, winning one — has the experience this win-now franchise wants. Under directive from ownership to get back to winning playoff games, the team rightly figures Wilson fits Pittsburgh's profile better than Fields.

Fields' age (25) and athleticism — see this run — make him intriguing, but starting him would make having Wilson pointless. It's possible Fields will play in 2024, but the odds of him out there in Week 1 are unlikely.  

Wilson clearly is the starter — and for good reason.