Steelers insider reveals why Mike Tomlin quickly changed his mind on Russell Wilson

Pittsburgh Steelers team president Art Rooney II in late January told the media that the quarterback decision was between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. 

Fast forward, and Fields is with the New York Jets, while it appears Pittsburgh has little to no interest in bringing Wilson back for 2025. Many Steelers media personalities are left scratching their heads, wondering what exactly happened in the months between those initial statements and now. Did Rooney simply say what was expected of him, as the professional and respectable owner he is, or did something change behind the scenes?

Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo addressed this mystery on "The Pomp and Joe Show" on Friday. He shed light on the situation, revealing that he believes something significant shifted within the organization. According to Fittipaldo, it wasn’t just a change in perception; something internal must have led to the shift in direction for the Steelers' quarterback strategy.

He speculated that Arthur Smith and Mike Tomlin may have had some very real conversations that led to the shift in strategy. Tomlin appeared to be very high on Wilson, with reports even suggesting he was leading the charge to bring him back. However, Smith didn’t seem as pleased with that direction.

"At some point between late January and the lead up until the legal tampering period, something changed within that building," Fittipaldo said. "We do know a couple of things. We know Russell Wilson and Arthur Smith had some issues last year."

While Fittipaldo isn't entirely certain, he does know that Wilson and Smith's issues became apparent as the season concluded. It's been widely reported that the two had a strained working relationship, and Fittipaldo ultimately believes this tension led to Tomlin having a key conversation. 

Out of respect for Smith, the team began to move away from the idea of bringing Wilson back for 2025.

"They were able to work through them to get through the season, but there were underlying issues that were reported afterward," Fittipaldo said. "Did Arthur Smith go to Mike Tomlin and say 'Maybe I can work with him again, but is there a better solution?'"

Many Steelers fans view Tomlin as stubborn and resistant to change, while others trust him to make the right decisions. However, it’s clear that the possibility of bringing Wilson back started to feel increasingly unlikely after Rooney spoke to the media. It seemed like something significant shifted within the building, and Fittipaldo would agree with that sentiment.

Now, the Steelers find themselves in a difficult position. They don’t currently have a starting quarterback on the roster. While they brought Mason Rudolph back after a year with the Tennessee Titans, there’s little confidence that he should be the starter. Just a couple of weeks ago, the Steelers' interest had started to shift toward other quarterbacks, including Matthew Stafford via trade, Sam Darnold and now Aaron Rodgers. All of these options began surfacing just two months after Rooney’s comments to the media.

That’s why Fittipaldo believes a serious conversation took place between Tomlin, Smith and other coaches, where they decided they simply couldn’t afford to try Wilson again. With the Steelers’ playoff hopes on the line, the team realized that bringing back Wilson could lead to further instability. This led to a shift in focus toward finding a more reliable quarterback for the 2025 season. The Steelers view Rodgers as that.

Steelers are in a difficult spot at quarterback

However, the Steelers are now in a difficult spot, with no clear starter on the roster. While Rudolph offers some familiarity, there’s little confidence in his ability to lead the team. The shift toward quarterbacks like Stafford, Darnold and Rodgers shows the urgency of the situation. The Steelers need a solution fast to avoid another season of uncertainty. Stafford ended up not getting traded, and Darnold signed with the Seattle Seahawks. Pittsburgh's options are running thin.

The pressure is mounting on Tomlin and the front office to make the right call. The success of the Steelers in 2025 and beyond will depend on how they address the quarterback position. As the offseason unfolds, Steelers fans are anxiously watching to see if the team can secure a quarterback who can lead them back to playoff contention.