The 2025 NFL season is finally here, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are ready to take the field after an offseason filled with headline-making moves, contract negotiations, and renewed championship aspirations. With a reloaded roster and a clear goal in mind, Mike Tomlin’s unit enters Week 1 looking to make an early statement.
But before the road to a potential Super Bowl run can begin, they’ll have to get past a very familiar face — former Steelers quarterback Justin Fields.
It’s a matchup rich in irony.
In 2024, Fields began the season as Pittsburgh’s starter and led the team to a 4-2 record. His dual-threat capabilities brought a spark to the offense before he was surprisingly benched for Russell Wilson ahead of Week 7. That game? Against none other than Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets — the very team Fields now leads into battle.
Now, the tables have turned. Rodgers wears the black and gold, and Fields is out to prove that the Steelers made the wrong decision.
Mike Tomlin, known for his poise and measured words, didn’t shy away from praising his former quarterback earlier this week. “He’s unique because he is who he is,” Tomlin said Tuesday. “He’s a really talented guy physically. He’s not easy to bring down.”
That much is true — and Pittsburgh knows it firsthand.
Fields’ athleticism is his most dangerous asset. Since entering the league, he’s amassed 2,509 rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns. His legs have become a nightmare for defensive coordinators across the league. And while questions remain about his consistency as a passer, his 7,780 passing yards and 45 touchdowns prove he can hurt teams through the air as well.
That’s why the Steelers’ gameplan must be simple but disciplined: contain Fields at all costs.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have the perfect playmakers to eliminate Justin Fields
Enter the defensive trio of T.J. Watt, Patrick Queen, and Alex Highsmith — the X-factors in this high-stakes opener. If Pittsburgh wants to avoid a Week 1 trap game, these three must set the tone. Edge discipline will be crucial.
Watt and Highsmith must collapse the pocket without letting Fields escape to the outside, while Queen will play a pivotal role in tracking Fields as a spy and cleaning up any second-level runs.
Field containment will be the primary priority. Tomlin’s defenses historically excel when facing quarterbacks with known tendencies, and there’s no one his staff knows better than Justin Fields. They’ve seen his habits, his decision-making under pressure, and how he reacts when flushed from the pocket.
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That familiarity must be weaponized.
Pittsburgh's offense may take time to gel with new faces like Rodgers and Jonnu Smith, but this Week 1 clash will come down to whether the defense can control Fields. If they keep him bottled up and force him to beat them strictly from the pocket, the Steelers will walk away victorious.
The gameplan is obvious. Now it’s time to execute.
Week 1 is here — and it begins with a statement opportunity against an old friend turned foe.