Steelers QB Justin Fields wants to compete, not planning on ‘sitting all year’

PITTSBURGH — The Steelers opened organized team activities on Tuesday as expected, with offseason acquisition Russell Wilson atop the depth chart in “pole position,” as coach Mike Tomlin has termed it. But that won’t keep Justin Fields from doing everything in his power to change the pecking order.

“I’m definitely competing,” Fields said Tuesday when he spoke with local reporters for the first time since the Bears traded him to Pittsburgh in March.

“I definitely don’t have the mindset of me just sitting all year,” the QB continued. “I’m coming in every day, giving it all I’ve got. I’m pushing (Wilson) to be his best, and he’s pushing me to be my best each and every day.”

Justin Fields said he’s “definitely competing.. Russ knows that. We’re competing against each other every day.

“I definitely don’t have the mindset of me just sitting all year.” pic.twitter.com/pzI9rj5ldi

— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) May 21, 2024

The Steelers entered this offseason to meet a crossroads at quarterback. Rather than riding it out with Kenny Pickett for one more season to see if first-year offensive coordinator Arthur Smith could unlock something the NFL hadn’t yet seen, Pittsburgh instead signed Wilson and put him in the driver’s seat to win the starting job.

Fields said that he communicated, through his agent, to Bears GM Ryan Poles that the Steelers were his preferred destination. When Wilson signed, Fields “definitely thought the door was shut” on the Steelers. However, when Pickett asked for a change of scenery, that door re-opened and Fields remained interested.

“I wanted to be here before Russell got here and after, too,” Fields said. “It was more so the team. Not even worried who was here or none of that stuff.

“I can just feel the energy. Just the consistency throughout the years. The culture that Coach T has. The standards that the Steelers have set, that this organization has set. That was the biggest appeal for me.”

So how will this new-look QB room shake out?

In the short and longer term, it will be a major NFL storyline worth watching. Because of Wilson’s established body of work in the NFL and leadership qualities, the Steelers plan to give nine-time Pro Bowler and 12-year veteran the early chance to win the job. It remains to be seen whether Fields can do enough in practice and in preseason games to change the team’s thinking.

As the Steelers look to the future, the dynamic becomes more complicated. Both quarterbacks are set to be free agents next spring. Wilson has said he wants to play “five to seven” more seasons, which makes him an option moving forward. However, if the Steelers can get the most out of the 25-year-old Fields and help him tap into the unique skill set that made him the 11th pick in 2021, they might have the next long-term starter in waiting.

The potential there is definitely intriguing. Because of his big arm and his dynamic running ability, Fields was once seen as a prospect good enough that the Bears gave up two first-round picks, a fourth-round pick and a fifth-round pick to draft him.

However, he endured a turbulent and disappointing three-year tenure in Chicago. Fields went 10-28 as the starter, completing 60.3 percent of his passes for 6,674 yards. Over that span, he also committed the seventh-most turnovers in the league (41) and was sacked a league-high 135 times.

The first-round pick the Bears acquired from the Panthers last year left Chicago with the No. 1 pick and a chance at a top quarterback, making Fields expendable. Fields said he got the sense during his exit interview with the Bears that they were going to draft a QB at No. 1 (they did, taking Caleb Williams) and were planning to move him.

“There were a lot of ups and downs,” Fields said of his Chicago tenure. “All-in-all, I appreciate every relationship that I built. All my teammates, they know that. Nothing but love for the city, for the fans and for my old teammates and coaches.”

Part of what makes Fields a compelling variable on the Steelers roster is that you could certainly argue he wasn’t put in the best situations to be successful in Chicago. He was drafted by what was essentially a lame-duck coaching staff. From there, he stepped into the starting lineup for a team with glaring roster holes, which meant shaky offensive line play and few offensive weapons. It’s also worth noting his play caller the last two seasons, Luke Getsy, was fired this offseason.

Asked if he felt he was put in the best situation, Fields took the high road.

“I’m not really going to harp on the past,” Fields said. “It is what it is. It’s in the past. I’m here now. I’m grateful to be here and grateful to be a part of this team.”

The situation in Pittsburgh should be markedly different. For starters, the Steelers’ highly compensated defense essentially lugged an anemic offense into the postseason last year. That’s a nice safety net for any quarterback, knowing he won’t be asked to light up the scoreboard to stay in games.

Beyond that, Fields also now has the opportunity to learn from Wilson. The two have a preexisting relationship that dates back to Fields’ college days at Ohio State. When Fields was coming out of college, he actually named Wilson as the QB he models his game after.

“The fact that I get to learn stuff from him and the things that he’s accomplished up to this point in his career has been great,” Fields said. “Just me learning the little details. How he’s so meticulous and detailed with every rep, every individual drill, just makes me think that’s what I should do each and every time.”

Most importantly, in terms of offensive identity, the Steelers plan to be a physical, running football team with Smith calling the shots. No matter who steps behind center, the QB will have the benefit of a remade offense line winning the line of scrimmage and what should be a reliable running game putting the offense in better passing situations.

Now, how much of a chance will Fields really get to show what he can do? And how much more can he continue to develop to prove he’s a better quarterback than the one the Bears traded away for a conditional sixth-round pick?

Justin Fields: “I’m nowhere near my ceiling.” pic.twitter.com/RTs3PzLhar

— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) May 21, 2024

“I’m not the same quarterback that I was last year,” Fields said. “I’m not the same quarterback that I even was yesterday. … I think I have a lot more room to grow. I’m nowhere near my ceiling.”

Required reading

(Photo: Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)