The Pittsburgh Steelers aren't a team to venture outside the box. Ownership sticks to what works. It's been their way since the Chuck Noll Super Bowl days of the 70s. Unfortunately, this franchise applies the same rule of thumb when it comes to the quarterback position.
Instead of getting aggressive in the NFL Draft and packaging draft capital to move up for a franchise signal-caller, Pittsburgh, historically, has been content with the QB that falls into their lap. In recent years, streaming veterans has been their approach. In 2024, the Steelers signed Russell Wilson and traded for Justin Fields.
This offseason, the top free-agent quarterback is Sam Darnold. The journeyman managed a brilliant season that included 35 touchdown passes and 4,319 passing yards while leading his team to an outstanding 14-3 record.
But one NFL Insider doesn't believe the Steelers will reach outside their comfort zone.
Dianna Russini, a Senior NFL Insider for The Athletic, joined the Rich Eisen show to discuss the state of the AFC North. When asked about Pittsburgh's quarterback position, Russini believes it will be the status quo for the Steelers.
"They're gonna look for a veteran quarterback, a bridge quarterback, and essentially continue to do what the Steelers do, which is rely on the defense, rely on the run game," Russini explained.
The Insider then mentioned Sam Darnold and Justin Fields by name—forecasting that the Steelers will be out on Darnold and in on Fields.
"I have a hard time believing that the Pittsburgh Steelers would be a team in on a Sam Darnold, or if the [Matthew] Stafford situation doesn't work. I think it would be a smart play," Russini continued. "I don't know if that's necessarily the Pittsburgh way. I think the Pittsburgh Steelers are just going to go for a veteran quarterback and perhaps keep Justin Fields on this roster."
Steelers can't stick to the QB status quo
When the Steelers traded for Justin Fields after already signing Russell Wilson during the 2024 offseason, I was excited. Fields had just turned 25 years old, and despite the polarizing options of his play, he possessed outstanding arm strength and remarkable mobility.
I was willing to roll the dice with Fields and see if something could become of him in 2024. But after Mike Tomlin sent him to the bench after Week 6, can Pittsburgh afford to deploy the QB they didn't have enough confidence in to lead this team last year?
That ship has already sailed.
If the Steelers are hoping for more significant changes in 2025, they can't be closed off to sign a high-budget free agent like Sam Darnold. Though Darnold could prove to be three times the cost, Pittsburgh should have learned by now that they can't cut corners when it comes to the quarterback position.
Darnold wouldn't be guaranteed to work out in Pittsburgh, but the season he just had with the Vikings included more touchdown passes (35) than any Steelers quarterback in history has thrown during the regular season. Darnold's passing yardage also would have been good for the fifth-best mark in Steelers history. This is a lot more than we can say for the pace that Fields was on last season.
If the Steelers want significant change, they must be willing to let old ways die. Let's hope Pittsburgh's front office has plans that are different from what Russini expects this team to do at quarterback.