Steelers and Justin Fields could be in store for ugly breakup in 2025

I’m not sure if Justin Fields bought or rented out a place when he was traded to the Steelers from the Bears, but no matter his living circumstances, he better get his moving boxes ready once again. I’ve seen a group of fans forming this ridiculous belief that the team still has plans to make Fields their long-term quarterback. I don’t buy it though, and I fully expect him to be playing on a new team in 2025.

Fields was never meant to be the initial starter, as Russell Wilson was in the famed pole position for the entire summer. No matter how little he played due to injury, the team was vocal that Wilson was their guy. This was proved true, as despite a 4-2 start and playing pretty well, Pittsburgh turned to Wilson and still made him the starter.

While it seems likely that Fields still see the field again this season, I feel like his benching will pretty much close the door on his long-term future with the team. A free agent next year and likely the most attractive quarterback option for a needy team, don’t expect Fields to plant his roots here past this year.

Justin Fields will likely be one-and-done with Steelers

To clarify what I have heard a lot of fans begin to claim, there seems to be this idea that the Steelers brought Wilson in to be the quarterback of today while they brought Fields in to be the quarterback of the future. That logic is completely lost on me.

The team wanted Wilson the most out of anyone this offseason as evidenced by their early agreement to a new deal with him. He was an attractive vet with a lot of good tape behind him (although not recent tape, to be fair). Denver also had to pay him an arm and a leg, so Pittsburgh got to sign him for cheap.

After the Kenny Pickett fallout, the team still wanted a quarterback competition, as Wilson wasn’t the same player from his prime days in Seattle. Fields got cheaper and cheaper by the day, and eventually, the Steelers got him for, at worst, a fourth-round pick. I was hopeful like most that Fields would be given a shot, but the payment to get him didn’t warrant it.

Sure, the Steelers turned to their backup for the first six games, but they never seemed to fully trust him. While Wilson could have easily played sooner than when he was turned to, Fields was doing enough not to warrant playing a still partially injured quarterback. It was evident that their plan was for Wilson to still be the guy though, as they gave him the reigns after a win against the Raiders.

Considering all of this, and the fact that Wilson hasn’t looked abysmal as a starter, I don’t see any reason to think that the Steelers are planning on using Fields as their quarterback of the future. Unless the wheels fall off on Wilson and Fields regains the starting role and excels at it, there isn’t enough justification to give him a big deal next year.

Like it or not the Steelers already made their choice. The offense looked timid and reserved with him at the helm. Even considering that, you don’t bench who you deem to be your future when they are winning and performing well enough. Pittsburgh doesn’t view Fields as their guy long-term because of how they have used him this year.

That isn’t to say the Fields trade was bad. The Steelers won four of their six games with him leading the team, and that probably doesn’t happen with Pickett as the backup or Kyle Allen as would have been the plan without Fields on the team. Assuming Wilson remains the starter, you likely only give up a sixth-round pick for Fields, and for the early season wins, you take that.

You also have to consider the compensatory value you will seemingly get out of Fields. A new team will offer him a healthy deal next year, so he should reap that value back and then some. While it won’t guarantee a pick in 2026 because of the pending free agency class, it kicks back at least some value to the team in addition to what they have on the field.

For those of you who are falling for this absurd idea that Fields is still the Steelers' future, please stop. You don’t bench the future of your franchise amid a winning streak for an aging veteran. The Fields trade was still a good move, but be ready for him and the team to part ways next offseason.