Pittsburgh Steelers owner and team president Art Rooney II raised eyebrows earlier this week when he acknowledged that his “preference would be to” keep either current starting quarterback Russell Wilson or backup Justin Fields for at least the 2025 season.
During a Thursday appearance on Pittsburgh television station WTAE, Rooney indicated he wouldn’t want the Steelers to embrace any summer quarterback competition this time.
“I would say that if we sign either Russell or Justin, I would assume from where we are today that one would go into the (2025) season being the starter,” Rooney explained, Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot shared.
Wilson defeated Fields last offseason in what seemed to be a competition in name only. Head coach Mike Tomlin returned to a healthy Wilson in Week 7 of the campaign after Fields won four of six starts as the veteran recovered from a lingering calf injury. Tomlin subsequently stuck with Wilson as Pittsburgh improved to 10-3 and closed the season with a five-game losing streak that concluded with a wild-card playoff defeat at the Baltimore Ravens.
Wilson and Fields remain on track to reach free agency when the new league year opens on March 12. During Thursday’s segment, Rooney said that the Steelers have “had conversations with” the signal-callers who, according to Rooney, are open to staying with Pittsburgh.
“We’ll be talking to Justin and his representative as well as Russell and his representative here soon,” Rooney added. “It’s one of those things where the sooner the better in terms of finalizing something with one of them.”
Numerous reporters have linked Wilson with the Las Vegas Raiders since that organization hired Pete Carroll as its head coach. The two famously guided the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl title and have apparently “mended fences” after a messy end to their working relationship. However, NFL insider Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk recently questioned if Raiders minority owner Tom Brady would sign off on Carroll bringing Wilson to Las Vegas.
Tomlin reportedly still believes in Wilson, and the 36-year-old may feel that staying put is best for his career’s closing days. That said, Wilson may want to work things out with the Steelers soon so that Rooney and Co. don’t lock Fields down on a deal that could make Wilson surplus to requirements in the Steel City.
