The Pittsburgh Steelers emerged as one of the prime destinations for quarterback Justin Fields before the Chicago Bears ultimately traded him to the Steelers in this offseason.
Reports from ESPN’s Brooke Pryor indicate that among the teams on Fields’ radar when it became evident that the Bears were looking to trade him were the Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, Las Vegas Raiders, and Atlanta Falcons. This move came as the Bears planned to draft a quarterback—likely USC’s Caleb Williams—with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
On March 16, the Bears finalized a deal with the Steelers, sending Fields to Pittsburgh in exchange for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick. This pick can potentially become a fourth-rounder if Fields participates in 51 percent or more of the Steelers’ offensive snaps in 2024.
Fields was initially drafted by the Bears with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, with hopes of him becoming the franchise quarterback the organization had long sought, reminiscent of Hall of Famer Sid Luckman from the 1940s.
During his tenure as the starter, Fields showcased moments of brilliance, notably rushing for 1,143 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022. Despite missing four games due to injury, he demonstrated his best passing performance in 2023, completing 61.4 percent of his attempts for 2,562 yards, 16 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
However, the Bears struggled to secure wins with Fields at the helm, managing just a 10-28 record in his 38 starts, including a 5-8 record last season. The Bears’ decision to trade Fields and potentially select Williams as their new franchise quarterback indicates a strategic shift in their approach.
The return the Bears received for Fields in the trade was considered surprisingly low, attributed in part to most teams having already addressed their quarterback situations by the time the trade took place.
Of the teams Fields had reportedly shown interest in, the Steelers had already secured veteran Russell Wilson, the Falcons acquired Kirk Cousins, the Vikings signed Sam Darnold, and the Raiders enlisted Gardner Minshew to compete with Aidan O’Connell.
Both the Raiders and Vikings remain in the running to add quarterbacks early in the draft, indicating a preference for that avenue over acquiring Fields.
In Pittsburgh, Fields begins his journey as the clear backup to Wilson. However, there remains the possibility for Fields to take over should Wilson struggle or sustain an injury. Wilson, a nine-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion, has faced challenges in recent years, particularly during his tenure with the Denver Broncos.
The Steelers, despite making the playoffs as a wild-card team last season, struggled with quarterback play. Therefore, even moderate performance from Wilson in 2024 would be a significant improvement.
Nevertheless, if Wilson fails to meet expectations, Fields could seize the opportunity to prove himself and potentially secure a long-term role with the Steelers.
The acquisition of Fields represents a low-risk, high-reward move for the Steelers, providing an opportunity for Fields to rebuild his value in a new environment.
