Steelers fans, let’s talk. That wildcard loss to the Ravens? Yeah, it wasn’t just another L—it was a giant exclamation point on a season that went completely off the rails. A 28-14 knockout, five straight losses to close things out, and now the offseason drama kicks into overdrive. Mike Tomlin didn’t sugarcoat it, calling the game “disappointing,” and Russell Wilson, who scraped together a couple of second-half touchdowns, is still over here saying it’s been one of his “best years.” Yikes, Russ.

Well, what’s brewing in that locker room? Let’s just say it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.

See, it’s no news that there’s been some serious tension in the Steelers’ locker room regarding their starting QB. And what’s adding fuel to the fire? According to the senior NFL reporter Albert Breer. “Up until now, the Steelers have the out of saying ‘we don’t do contracts in season’, and that’s one hundred percent true,” Breer reported. “But now they’ve got a decision to make. There’s been frustration with Russell Wilson over the course of the year. He’s in a contract here Justin Fields is in a contract.”

Fields was traded to the Steelers earlier in 2024 for his final year of the rookie contract, and at the same time, Wilson signed a one-year deal with the team. Enter the regular season. The internal disagreement started that Wilson would limit the offense in a way that Fields would not. That’s not all. The locker room reportedly leaned towards Fields as the starting QB over Wilson.

Remember his first start of the game against the Jets? The QB missed a clear opportunity to Calvin Austin, who was wide open to his left. And believe me, that disappointing start got him solid criticism and attracted boos from the fans. And guess what? His season wrapped up pretty much in the same way.

The QB finished the game with 270 yards and 2 touchdowns—not terrible, but definitely not enough to get the Steelers over the hump. And honestly, it’s been the same story for a while now. Head Coach Mike Tomlin didn’t sugarcoat it, saying, “Like our effort, it wasn’t good enough.” And just like that, the Steelers’ season ended with the Ravens taking the wild-card win, leaving Pittsburgh at a crossroads. Now, with everything on the line, the Steelers have a big decision to make. What comes next for this team? It’s more than just a loss—it’s the start of figuring out who’s leading this squad moving forward.

Top Comment by Faces

They shouldn’t have even took Fields out !

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But if you think the Steelers’ QB frustration ends with this loss, think again. As Albert Breer put it, “See how the playoffs play out, obviously, ‘one and done’ doesn’t help Russell Wilson’s case.” Ouch. While the team is still open to keeping Justin Fields around, Breer adds, “he’s not their starter.” So, back to reality: Wilson’s ‘one and done’ playoff run didn’t exactly do him any favors. The QB situation in Pittsburgh? Yeah, it’s far from figured out.

All in all, it’s up to the team if they’re going for a contract extension for Wilson or not? But one thing is for sure. They’ve made up their mind for Fields, who was in his final year of a rookie contract this season.

Fields to lose $25.66 million amid Wilson vs. Fields

The Pittsburgh team fell short to the Ravens as Lamar Jackson and Co. had made it to the divisional round. That means, folks, that’s the end of the rookie contract for their backup QB. Fields signed his rookie deal with the Chicago Bears back in 2021. After three years, the Bears traded him to the Steelers. With that, the Pittsburgh team had the ability to choose the fifth-year option for him. And guess what? The team had another option! And believe me, it cost him nothing short of a handsome fortune.

Fields signed his rookie deal for $18.87 million, but if the Steelers had picked up his fifth-year option, he would’ve been set to make $25.66 million in 2025. But they decided to pass on that, which means Fields is now a free agent—basically losing out on $25.66 million. Talk about a tough break.

Well, the Steelers might just be looking for a QB in the coming off-season. And according to Breer, they have plenty of options out there for them. “There could be guys like Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins available. So a lot of options open for the Steelers there.” It would be exciting to see if the team decides to go with Russell Wilson. Or they’ve got some other cards to show at the table.