Justin Fields, who was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason, is determined not to settle for a backup role.
Justin Fields doesn’t care what the Pittsburgh Steelers’ depth chart says; he wants to start in Week 1. When he was traded from the Chicago Bears in March, Fields felt relieved to get another opportunity, especially given the Bears’ plans in the 2024 NFL Draft, which pointed to selecting quarterback Caleb Williams as the first overall pick. Now, Fields joins a Steelers quarterback room that includes Russell Wilson, a Super Bowl champion and nine-time Pro Bowler, who is expected to start in training camp.
However, Fields has a different perspective. He wants to start and is actively competing with Wilson for that position, a fact he says his competitors are aware of. “I’m definitely competing,” Fields, in his fourth NFL season, told reporters on Tuesday. “Russ knows that. We compete against each other every day.
“I don’t have the mindset of sitting all year. Every day, I come in here and give it my all, pushing him to be his best, and he pushes me to do the same.”
This isn’t Fields trying to create a rift between him and Wilson, but rather showing that he’s not content with being a backup. His coaches might assign him to that role after training camp, but every player understands that competition in the summer is inevitable, especially at the quarterback position.
Despite Wilson’s impressive resume, his performance in Denver left much to be desired, leading the Broncos to absorb significant dead cap money to usher in a new era under coach Sean Payton, with Bo Nix, the No. 12 overall pick, set to start in 2024. The Steelers, seeking consistency at quarterback, cleared their depth chart and signed both Wilson and Fields. With Wilson on a veteran minimum contract, any struggles might lead to the Steelers parting ways with him, opening the door for Fields, who was pleased to move to Pittsburgh this offseason.
“We were in the same situation last year with the No. 1 pick, and it was just a little different this year,” Fields said on Tuesday in his first interview since the trade. “I’m not ignorant to the fact that — I can read body language and everything like that. It wasn’t really a shock to where it’s like, ‘Oh, I got traded.’ I knew what was going to happen beforehand, so I’m just grateful I got transferred to the position that I wanted to be in.
“A shout-out to [Bears GM] Ryan Poles. We connected through my agency, and I informed him where I wanted to be, which was here. He honored it, and I appreciate him for it. I’m delighted he was able to place me where I wanted to be.” Fields acknowledged the “ups and downs” he experienced with the Bears, including a 10-28 career record. While inconsistent early in his career, he has shown flashes of greatness with impressive deep-ball touchdowns and dynamic running ability.
Despite the struggles in Denver last season, Wilson kept the team in playoff contention with a 7-8 starting record, 3,070 passing yards, and 26 touchdowns to eight interceptions. However, the Broncos had a tough season with Wilson in 2022, finishing 4-11.
This summer, the quarterback competition between Wilson and Fields will be one of the most closely watched. Both have started working with their new receiver corps. But for those who think the starting job is Wilson’s to lose, Fields is clearly aiming for the top spot, undeterred by the presence of a seasoned veteran.
