The Pittsburgh Steelers are arguably the most successful franchise in NFL history. If you are just looking at championships, they are the most successful. But in recent memory, they have struggled. I know, they have a winning record every year (blah blah blah). At some point, we have to recognize that the winning records are masking what’s really happening. What are the Steelers doing at quarterback?
Mike Tomlin is one of the best coaches in the league. You simply cannot deny that. His approach to the game is something rare amongst his counterparts. Players love him and have always left great reviews on the all time head coach. You have to be honest here, the last few quarterbacks he’s coached will not bring a 7th championship to Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh took a chance on Kenny Pickett, which was such a fitting story. He went to Pitt, he’s from New Jersey, he’s essentially a local hero. He is absolutely not a hero on the field though. Kenny Pickett has a total of 13 passing touchdowns and 13 interceptions in two seasons so far. He’s missed some games, but those numbers for 25 games played is inexcusable. The team also experimented with Mitchell Trubisky, yikes. He has a total of 8 passing touchdowns and 10 interceptions as a Steeler. Mason Rudolph was their playoff starter versus the Bills in the 2024 Wild Card. Rudolph is a solidified backup in the league, so him being mentioned here is slightly unfair. Injuries to Pickett have delayed his progress in the NFL, but even when he’s healthy, he hasn’t shown much.
Ben Roethlisberger was the last great Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback. He won two Super Bowl championships with the organization, led the league in passing yards twice, and made six Pro Bowls. On the field, Big Ben was the truth. Since his retirement, the once great team has lost its identity. Yes, you may be thinking that the quarterback position is not the only issue with the Steelers, but it is their main concern. You need a leader to get you over the top, and a certain guy comes to mind.
One name the Steelers need to seriously consider: Russell Wilson. A lot of people call Wilson “washed”, but he has a good amount left in the tank. He threw 26 touchdowns and only 8 interceptions a season ago with the Denver Broncos. He sat out the last two games due to an all season debacle with head coach Sean Payton. Wilson is hungry, and he wants to win. Denver did not surround him with the team to succeed. Pittsburgh on the other hand, they have a prepared team. If you have watched the Steelers offense in the last two seasons, you saw that they just need an above average quarterback in order to win. Kenny “Pick6” Pickett struggled to hit open receivers and simply read the field. If you obtain a quarterback like Russell Wilson, that automatically changes for the better. Guys like Kirk Cousins and Justin Fields have been in the mix for joining new teams, but Cousins has never succeeded in any situation and Fields is still a question mark. Wilson is a solidified winner and just needs to be in the right situation. Mike Tomlin is the perfect coach for him to bloom once again.
The Steelers (outside of quarterback) are a solid, solid team. In order to get back to glory, they have to make a change at quarterback immediately. You cannot employ three backup caliber quarterbacks and expect to win. The fact that they even made the playoffs with their current situation speaks volumes. It shows that the team is able to make progress, they just need a new captain at the helm. Call me crazy, but I think Russell Wilson is the man for the job in Pittsburgh.
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