Our Clients:

Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

Mar 24, 2024 7:35 pm

Mike Tomlin: Russell Wilson has ‘pole position’ for Steelers’ No. 1 QB

mike tomlin

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has two starter-quality quarterbacks on his roster, but only one can start.

Tomlin offered some insight Sunday on newcomers Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, Tomlin’s potential starters after the team traded Kenny Pickett.

“We’ve been very transparent about the pecking order, at least to start,” Tomlin told reporters at the NFL’s league meetings in Orlando, Fla. “I just think that provides clarity for all parties involved.”

That clarity indicates Wilson, 35, has the inside track after a roller-coaster two years with the Denver Broncos.

“Russell is a veteran, man,” Tomlin said. “He’s got a proven process of readiness. He’s been in this league a long time, and he’s capable of rallying troops, receivers, tight ends and running backs.”

Tomlin said Wilson, who reached two Super Bowls with the Seattle Seahawks, winning one, has a grasp of how to cultivate leadership over an extended amount of time — something that will provide a benefit for Fields as the quarterbacks “do some of the informal things at this time of the year.”

Fields, 25, threw for 2,562 yards, 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 13 games last season for the Chicago Bears. He added 657 rushing yards and four scores.

He was traded to the Steelers this offseason in exchange for a sixth-round pick in 2025 that could become a fourth-rounder if certain parameters are met.

Tomlin stopped short of calling Wilson his Week 1 starter.

“Rest assured, when it’s time to compete, Justin will (be) given an opportunity to compete,” he said, “and we’ll allow those guys to sort themselves out. But I thought it was appropriate to describe it in a way for when we get started. Russell’s in pole position, and I think his body of work justifies that.

“And just from my conversations with Justin, he is excited about working alongside Russell and learning some of those veteran tricks of the trade from … a guy who has been around for over a decade.”

The Steelers finished 10-7 last season, losing 31-17 to the Buffalo Bills in the wild-card playoff round.

–Field Level Media

You may also like

Irvin, Nationals
Jul 3, 2025 7:32 am

Jake Irvin, Nationals eye series victory vs. Tigers

The Washington Nationals will shoot for their second straight series win when they host the Detroit Tigers on Thursday evening. After dropping seven consecutive series, Washington took two of three…

Marlins, eury
Jul 3, 2025 5:50 am

Marlins, win streak over, chase series win against Twins

The host Miami Marlins, who had their eight-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday, will try to get back on track Thursday afternoon in the decisive contest of a three-game series…

league of legends, fans
Jul 3, 2025 4:23 am

Anyone’s Legend overtake FlyQuest in LoL MSI

Anyone’s Legend shook off a slow start to beat FlyQuest 3-1 on Wednesday in a bracket-stage opening-round match at the League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational in Vancouver. The $2 million…

More News News

Irvin, Nationals
Jul 3, 2025 7:32 am

Jake Irvin, Nationals eye series victory vs. Tigers

The Washington Nationals will shoot for their second straight series win when they host the Detroit Tigers on Thursday evening. After dropping seven consecutive series, Washington took two of three…

Marlins, eury
Jul 3, 2025 5:50 am

Marlins, win streak over, chase series win against Twins

league of legends, fans
Jul 3, 2025 4:23 am

Anyone’s Legend overtake FlyQuest in LoL MSI

Los Angeles Dodgers
Jul 3, 2025 4:00 am

MLB roundup: Dodgers win as Clayton Kershaw gets 3,000th K

White Sox, Dodgers
Jul 3, 2025 1:42 am

Clayton Kershaw makes history in Dodgers’ comeback win over White Sox

Read all
fb-post
advertisment
title-icon

Upcoming events

See all odds
[gs-fb-comments]