Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields throws a pass during the NFL football team’s training camp in Latrobe, Pa., Thursday, July 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
LATROBE, Pa. – When the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Justin Fields in March, their only expectation of the former Chicago Bears quarterback was that he would be competitive.
The Steelers don’t need the 25-year-old Fields as their new franchise quarterback, despite a void three seasons after two-time Super Bowl winner Ben Roethlisberger retired. Instead, Fields is eager to learn behind Russell Wilson while pushing the nine-time Pro Bowler and former Super Bowl winner.
Fields will get his first chance to showcase his dynamic first-round talent when he starts in the Steelers’ season opener against Houston at Acrisure Stadium on Friday.
The coaches “want me to go out there and be a leader for the team,” Fields said. “The most important thing is to be a leader for the offense and just carry the guys.”
Wilson injured his calf on the day of the Steelers’ training camp. For the opening game of the preseason, head coach Mike Tomlin decided to bench the veteran signal caller, who had a limited workload during practices at St. Vincent College.
“I just try to take advantage of every single rep I get,” Fields said. “I know if (Wilson) wasn’t injured, I wouldn’t be in this position. These are opportunities for me and I try to take full advantage of them.”
Fields has flashed the talent that led the Bears to draft the former Ohio State standout with the No. 11 pick in 2021, but he has also shown occasional inconsistencies in accuracy that played a role in the Bears’ decision to part ways with Fields and draft Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick this spring.
Tomlin is happy to have Fields in Pittsburgh.
“I think he just comes out every day to compete,” Tomlin said. “He has an incredible competitive spirit. We have a competitive environment and he seems to enjoy it.”
Pittsburgh revamped its quarterback room in March, signing Wilson for the veteran minimum salary of $1.21 million after he was released by Denver. Kenny Pickett, the team’s first-round pick in 2022, asked to be traded after Wilson arrived, so the Steelers sent him to Philadelphia and acquired Fields from Chicago for a conditional sixth-round pick in 2025. Pittsburgh later signed Kyle Allen and allowed Mason Rudolph (Tennessee) and Mitch Trubisky (Buffalo) to leave as free agents.
Wilson was listed as the starter and Fields as the backup on the team’s initial roster released this week. And although Tomlin has previously said Wilson is in “pole position” for the starting job, he still called it a competition for the quarterback spot.
“Everything we do is an audition, not just for (Fields) but for others,” Tomlin said. “What happens in a stadium carries more weight than what happens in a practice environment because it’s more like a game.”
In Chicago, Fields went 10-28 with 40 touchdowns and 30 interceptions as a starter. Fields also ran for 2,220 yards and 14 touchdowns. Only Lamar Jackson and Cam Newton had at least 40 touchdown passes and 2,000 rushing yards in their first three seasons. In 2022, Fields had 17 touchdown passes and ran for 1,143 yards and eight scores for a team that finished 3-14.
Even if Wilson starts, Fields can help the defense prepare for Mobile Division quarterbacks like Jackson and Deshaun Watson.
“He’s fast, that’s for sure,” Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith said of Fields. “I tackled him on a read option play from a bad angle and he got by me and scored a touchdown. He’s got unique talents, so he’s going to be a great asset for us.”
Fields recently described it as the toughest training camp he’s ever been through, but Fields is still happy to put three inconsistent seasons with the Bears behind him.
“I just try to control what I can control and work as hard as I can,” Fields said. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
