With Justin Fields set to enter free agency at the start of the new league year, former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is endorsing a contract extension for the young signal-caller.
Steelers Have a Decision To Make at QB This Offseason
The Steelers are firmly in the market for a quarterback this offseason. Fields, as well as veteran Russell Wilson, are both entering free agency, and the Steelers haven’t limited their options to their two in-house options.
According to KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM’s Benjamin Allbright, the Steelers showed preliminary interest in Matthew Stafford, but the quarterback reportedly lacked interest in Pittsburgh as a landing spot before ultimately signing an extension with the Los Angeles Rams.
Allbright reported later that the Steelers were also monitoring Derek Carr and that the team could pursue him if New Orleans decides to move on from the veteran this offseason. With the New Orleans Saints now expected to keep Carr, however, another potential veteran option appears to be off the board.
"The Pittsburgh Steelers currently don't have a Quarterback under contract..
I think they're gonna spend this week working on getting a deal done with Justin Fields or Russell Wilson..
I would imagine Justin Fields is first up in the pecking order" ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/HQZnKzbWZa
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 4, 2025
With rumored interest in outside options being put on the backburner, the latest indication is that the Steelers will almost certainly re-sign either Wilson or Fields to an extension. In an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter speculated that Fields is the organization’s first choice.
Ben Roethlisberger Endorses Justin Fields as Steelers’ Starting QB
As a two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback in Pittsburgh, Roethlisberger is revered within the organization, and his public endorsement regarding the team’s quarterback situation will hold value.
Roethlisberger, after initially remaining neutral, has now come out in support of Fields as the starting quarterback in 2025.
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“I’d like to see what Fields could do in another year of that offense,” Roethlisberger said on his “Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger” podcast.
“Whether you want to bring someone else in, let’s see what he can do in a second year of an offense. There’s some familiarity. He’s had a new system every year. He may be more comfortable. Obviously, we’re not taking into account contracts and all that kind of stuff. I’d like to see what Fields could do another year.”
In 10 games (six games as a starter) in 2024, Fields had a 4-2 record, completed about 66% of his pass attempts, and registered 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and only one interception. Fields was on pace for a career year before being replaced by Wilson down the stretch.
He recorded a career-best QB+ grade of 78.1, which would have been 15th in the NFL if he had enough reps to qualify, slightly ahead of Wilson who posted a 75.3.
At just 25 years old, offering familiarity with the offensive system and rare athleticism for the position, Fields presents the highest upside of any quarterback the Steelers can realistically pursue this offseason, and the team would be wise to extend him before he enters an open market with no shortage of quarterback-needy teams.