Mike Tomlin officially names Russell Wilson as Steelers' starting quarterback

Mike Tomlin confirmed Wednesday what was apparent since the Pittsburgh Steelers started revamping the quarterback position in March:

Russell Wilson will be the starter heading into the season opener Sept. 8 in Atlanta.

Wilson got the nod over Justin Fields, who will serve as the backup to start the season. Kyle Allen will be the No. 3 quarterback.

Tomlin met with Wilson and Fields after practice Wednesday to announce his decision.

“It was difficult but not in a negative way,” Tomlin said. “It was difficult in a positive way. It was difficult because of what they are capable of doing. The decision was difficult because of how they have conducted themselves.”

“Russell Wilson is our QB1” pic.twitter.com/Weaar9dbKG

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) August 28, 2024

Wilson’s experience — he is a 13-year vet with two Super Bowl appearances — got the edge over Fields’ dual-threat capabilities. A former No. 1 draft pick, Fields was traded to the Steelers in March one day after Wilson’s free-agent signing with the Steelers was announced. He is entering his fourth season.

“His body of work is one of the components of why he is here,” Tomlin said about Wilson, a nine-time Pro Bowl representative. “The decision we made is based on what it is we saw.”

Wilson held the “pole position” on the starting job in offseason workouts, training camp and the preseason when he took almost all the first-team reps when he was healthy. Wilson started the second and third preseason games after missing the first game with a minor calf injury. He completed 8 of 10 passes for 47 yards against Buffalo and both attempts for 26 yards against Detroit.

“We had a plan for how I was going to go about it,” Wilson said. “I’ve been full go for the past two weeks, basically.”

Fields rushed for 2,220 yards in three seasons with the Bears, including 1,143 in 2022. He has scored 14 rushing touchdowns in his career.

Tomlin hinted at finding a role for Fields on offense when the season begins. Fields could be involved in packages with or without Wilson on the field.

“I’ll leave all that on the table,” Tomlin said. “Speculate away.”

Wilson also is open to the idea of expanding Fields’ role.

“Whatever it takes to find another touchdown in there is always a good thing,” he said.

Wilson also has shown an ability to make plays with his legs, exceeding 500 yards rushing five times in his 12 NFL seasons with Seattle and Denver. He hasn’t reached that mark, though, since 2020 with the Seahawks.

“What I’ve seen is certainly sufficient in terms of doing the things we desire with quarterback mobility or doing ad-lib things in terms of extending plays,” Tomlin said. “That is very much still in his wheelhouse.”

After fighting through injuries in 2022, his first season in Denver, Wilson rebounded last year to complete 66.4% of his passes for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 15 games.

“I’ve said it before, but last year I felt like me again,” Wilson said. “I was locked in. There was adversity, but you overcome it and move on.”