Russell Wilson appeared to be the quarterback that Pittsburgh Steelers fans have longed for since the exit of the franchise legend and future Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Upon his return from injury in Week Seven, he took over for Justin Fields, leading to a significant improvement in the Steelers’ offense and a quick streak of victories. However, the momentum didn’t last, as the team hit a rough patch and ended the regular season on a low note. Wilson’s performance significantly declined, contributing to a four-game losing streak that ultimately hurt the Steelers’ standing in the AFC North.
Pittsburgh’s struggles continued in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs, where they suffered their fifth consecutive loss to the Baltimore Ravens, falling 28-14 in a game that seemed even less competitive than the final score suggested.
According to Mark Kaboly from The Pat McAfee Show, ownership in Pittsburgh recognizes that the issue of quarterback play is a pressing concern that needs to be addressed before anything else can be considered. “Art Rooney II just spoke to a dozen of us. He really emphasized the need to find a quarterback. He mentioned that he would like to have either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields back, but fixing the QB room is the top priority,” Kaboly reported on Monday.
Art Rooney II just spoke to a dozen of us. He really harped on finding a quarterback. Said that he would like to have either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields back but No. 1 on the list is fixing the QB room
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) January 27, 2025
Fans took to social media to respond to Rooney II’s comments. One fan expressed, “If we keep Russ and let Justin walk, I’ll complain a lot on the internet. Then I’ll wave my terrible towel. Sigh. Here We Go.” Another fan noted, “That’s disappointing… hoped that he would have a different message beyond quarterback… sounds like the family is not that upset about watching the Chiefs every year?” Additional reactions included, “Him even mentioning Russ shows nothing is changing,” and, “Well, it ain’t happening with this QB class, so he better give the kid the reins.” It will be interesting to see whether Wilson remains on Pittsburgh’s roster for the 2025 season.