It's easy to forget sometimes that the NFL, at the end of the day, is one big storyline each season. Sure, the football is the product, but the drama and intrigue comes from how each team interacts with each other. The Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets, for example, are tied together this year thanks to their quarterback situations.
The Steelers continue to wait on Aaron Rodgers to decide his playing future, while the Jets pivoted away from the former MVP in favor of Justin Fields. Fields of course was the starting QB for Pittsburgh during the first six games of 2024, before he was benched for Russell Wilson despite playing well.
We have known that the two teams would face off this season for months, but now we know that the matchup will kick off the season. The NFL is sending a clear message by setting them up for an early meeting.
NFL wants the Pittsburgh Steelers to show whether they were right to let Justin Fields go
Heading into the 2025 offseason, the Steelers showed interest in retaining at least one of their two primary starting QBs from 2024. That obviously didn't come to pass, as Justin Fields took a sizable deal from the Jets early in free agency. Russell Wilson took his time, but ultimately landed in New York as well, signing with the Giants.
The Steelers pivoted to a reunion with Mason Rudolph, with the idea that they would also pursue Aaron Rodgers following his release from the Jets. That still seems like the plan as of now, but the longer the former All-Pro takes to make up his mind, the more doubt fans will have.
Many believe that Fields earned the opportunity to be given a full season as the starting QB in Pittsburgh. Whether it was money or his feelings about being benched, Fields seemed ready to move on.
Still, the NFL scheduling the Steelers and Jets in Week 1 feels calculated. Whether Rodgers ends up as the Steelers starter or not, the game will give the Steelers the chance to show why they ultimately didn't believe in Fields enough to keep him around.
For their sake, I hope they were right.