Justin Fields free agency: Adam Schefter reveals likelihood of a return to Steelers

Much of the offseason talk about the future of the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback room have centered around the potential return of 36-year-old veteran Russell Wilson.

But, after a roller-coaster 2024 season in Pittsburgh, the Steelers have another pending free-agent QB that the organization might be interested in bringing back, according to ESPN insider Adam Schefter: 25-year-old starter-turned-backup Justin Fields.

“Returning to Pittsburgh remains a possibility for Russell Wilson, as it does for Justin Fields, the other (Steelers) quarterback,” Schefter said on Sunday morning’s NFL Countdown ahead of Super Bowl LIX. “The Steelers have made it very clear they’d like to bring back one of those two quarterbacks. They’ve spoken to Russell. They’ll be talking to Justin Fields, but there will be a market for Justin Fields. A number of teams (are) interested in him and we’ll see whether or not that includes Pittsburgh in his future.”

Steelers face massive QB question entering 2025 offseason

Last offseason, the Steelers acquired Fields from the Chicago Bears and signed Wilson to a one-year deal following his release from the Denver Broncos. Longtme Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin named Wilson the starter over Fields entering the regular season, but a calf injury forced Wilson to miss the first six games of the season. Fields subsequently led Pittsburgh to a 4-2 record before giving way for Wilson as the Steelers won six of Wilson’s first seven starts for a 10-3 record and first place in the AFC North.

But a four-game losing streak to end the regular season forced Pittsburgh to play on the road as a Wild Card against the rival Baltimore Ravens, who captured the division crown for the second consecutive season. The Steelers would go on to lose its sixth consecutive playoff game dating back to 2016.

There was a common theme throughout the five straight defeats: Pittsburgh struggled to put points on the board, failing to surpass more than 17 points in any of those games. Wilson, 36, finished his 13th season in the NFL throwing for 2,482 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions on 63.7% passing. Fields, 25, passed for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and one interception with a 65.8 completion percentage. He added five rushing scores.

Steelers owner Art Rooney II addresses future of Russell Wilson, Justin Fields in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Steelers owner and president Art Rooney II said Monday “it’s his preference” to sign either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields this offseason.

“They’re both capable quarterbacks, and my preference would be to sign one of them,” Rooney said, via Brooke Pryor of ESPN. “So that’ll be the priority, and I think that will give us the best opportunity to move forward. … We’ve got a whole quarterback room to fill, and so there’s jobs open in there. I wouldn’t be surprised if we look in the Draft as well either this year or next, and so that’s got to be the priority.”

Rooney added it’s “probably unlikely” the Steelers bring back both quarterbacks in 2025.

“I wouldn’t close the door, but I’d say it’s probably unlikely,” Rooney said. “I think both of them see themselves as starters and I don’t know that they want to share the same job again next year. So, I would say most likely we probably don’t wind up bringing them both back.”

Nick Geddes contributed to this report.