This month, the Pittsburgh Steelers brought in two experienced quarterbacks, signing Russell Wilson after he was cut from the Denver Broncos and acquiring Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears. But even though both players started for their previous teams last year, only one of the players can be the starter for the Steelers – and it sounds like one player already has the edge.
During a recent interview with Brooke Pryor of ESPN at the NFL league meetings, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that the team has decided Russell Wilson will have the top position on the depth chart to start, given his experience.
Tomlin said that he has been “transparent in the pecking order” at quarterback between Wilson and Justin Fields, and said that Wilson is in the “pole position” as the team’s top quarterback.
Tomlin, who said he's been "transparent in the pecking order" :
"[Wilson's] just got a lot of experience in terms of what it takes to be the guy over the course of a 12-month calendar and I just think that that's something that a younger guy like Justin could learn from." https://t.co/4kfCacbZPA
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) March 24, 2024
“[Wilson’s] just got a lot of experience in terms of what it takes to be the guy over the course of a 12-month calendar and I just think that that’s something that a younger guy like Justin could learn from,” Tomlin said according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com.
Obviously, these comments led to a lot of reactions on social media.
That’s an interesting way of wording things https://t.co/W4IbWmNWRM
— MinkahBurgh Steelers (@SteelersWin109) March 24, 2024
QBs who've won the Super Bowl at 36 or older: John Elway, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning.
If a Lombardi Trophy is the goal, it'd be appropriate for Justin Fields to compete immediately. https://t.co/I528d1I5N4— Dave Dameshek (@Dameshek) March 24, 2024
Not too long ago he said this :
"There's always competition in this thing. We don't anoint anyone."I don't care what he says anymore. https://t.co/fWOeJawAif
— P G H (@pgh_cardguy) March 24, 2024
This is the way https://t.co/Krpfe4SWIX
— Jeremy Betz (@thebetz93) March 24, 2024
So he basically means, Its Russ job unless hes terrible or until Justin Fields shows something in camp that would deem him "ready" to compete for the starting spot https://t.co/hXBEUTtDr0
— S c o t t y (@Scotty2Hottie__) March 24, 2024
Let him cook https://t.co/ZTFuTPhaM0
— Tyler Lovejoy (@TylerL349) March 24, 2024
So while Fields will have a chance to compete, it sounds like it will be Wilson’s job to lose.
