This season has truly been a credit to Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and the culture he's been able to maintain for so many years.
Regardless of what types of personalities are in his locker room, Tomlin still has yet to endure a losing season. He's done a masterful job leading this franchise for so long, and while there may have been some doubts going into the 2024 campaign, Tomlin has once again proved why he's one of the best in the business.
The quarterback position is one of multiple spots fans were a bit concerned about over the offseason, especially as the regular season got closer. Quarterback Russell Wilson sustained an injury late in the offseason and that paved the way for Justin Fields to take over the starting gig, temporarily.
With Fields at the helm, some wondered whether or not Wilson would ever play a single down for the Steelers. The team had gone 4-2 with Fields starting and, well, they were a winning football team.
Still, Tomlin reverted back to Wilson as soon as the tenured veteran was deemed healthy enough to start. And, there were plenty of opinions on the matter, including some that questioned what the relationship between the two quarterbacks was like and how it impacted the locker room.
Fast forward to present day, and this Steelers team isn't missing a beat.
Pat Freiermuth peels back curtain on current Russell Wilson-Justin Fields relationship
With Wilson starting, the Steelers have won six of seven games and are looking like a legitimate threat in the AFC, sitting with a record of 10-3. The offense is doing things it wasn't previously doing with Fields under center.
After their most recent win in Week 14 over the Cleveland Browns, tight end Pat Freiermuth caught up with Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer to talk Wilson.
“Not that we ever didn't have respect for Russ. It was tough when he was hurt, but he did a great job when he was hurt of being involved, and helping Justin any way he could.
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“That's what helped him when he came back—guys knew that he had our back. He had Justin's back. There was no animosity between the two. It was all about winning. It couldn't really happen without both of them, and how they handled it," Freiermuth said.
This, right here, is a testament not only to Tomlin's leadership but also to the type of people in that locker room. Say what you want to about Wilson (believe me, I've had my qualms) but he's handled this with class. By all accounts, Wilson has said and done the right things, especially when it comes to his relationship with Fields.
The fact that Wilson and Fields sport a strong bond and support one another is just one more reason why this team can do some damage in the playoffs. It's just one more reason why Tomlin should be up there in conversation for NFL Coach of the Year.
When there were doubters, this team remained steadfast under Tomlin. The relationship between these two quarterbacks only further proves that fact.