The Pittsburgh Steelers are no strangers to drama, and the latest buzz surrounding quarterback Russell Wilson and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has fans fuming. Reports of a strained relationship between the two have surfaced, painting a picture of dysfunction in the Steel City.
Pittsburgh Steelers Fans Take Sides on Russell Wilson vs. Arthur Smith Drama
Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show revealed the tension on X, saying that while Wilson and Smith appeared to get along publicly, their working relationship was less than harmonious behind the scenes.
“Reports surfaced during the year that offensive coordinator Arthur Smith preferred Fields over Wilson but that was never substantiated,” he wrote.
“Still, despite Wilson and Smith spending countless hours together after the typical workday watching film and publicly joking about it, a team source recently said that Wilson and Smith did not have a very good working relationship but fought through their differences as best they could.”
Whether or not this is true, NFL fans wasted no time taking to social media to vent their frustrations. One fan wrote, “That franchise is an absolute joke and they are completely unrecognizable.”
Great reporting by @MarkKaboly. Says Russell Wilson and Arthur Smith did not have good work relationship. And had to fight through their differences. I HIGHLY doubt Russ is back. pic.twitter.com/meQPS3wDLR
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) January 15, 2025
Another fan said, “No wonder Tomlin was the only one in the building who wanted Wilson to start. Stink was right all along. So was Payton for dumping him.”
“The real question is … why in the hell did Tomlin not put [Justin] Fields in? It all comes back to Tomlin refusing to see a problem and fixing it,” one user wondered.
“Isn’t Arthur heading to NY? If Smith didn’t like him, what the hell does that matter now as long as mediocre Mike likes him?” a fan suggested, linking Smith to the head coaching vacancy with the New York Jets.
“He is toxic positivity,” said a Wilson critic.
“Typical Steelers dysfunction,” said another.
Wilson’s arrival in Pittsburgh was meant to be a fresh start after his stint in Denver under head coach Sean Payton. Head Coach Mike Tomlin and Smith tried to optimize the offense to his strengths with a scheme that emphasized play-action deep shots. It worked wonders at first, elevating them to a top-10-scoring offense. However, the team’s collapse in the second half of the season, culminating in a five-game losing streak, erased any optimism.
Ultimately, Wilson finished 17th in PFN’s QB+ metric, behind Fields (if he had qualified).
However, Wilson maintained a solid relationship with Tomlin, who reportedly advocated for bringing the veteran QB in on a minimum deal. NFL Insider Mike Garafolo believes this connection could be Wilson’s ticket to staying in Pittsburgh. “Wilson’s best path back to the Steelers’ roster in 2025 is through Mike Tomlin,” Garafolo shared.
Mike Garafolo says Russell Wilson still has Tomlin’s Support: “Russell Wilson’s best path back to the Steelers’ roster in 2025 is through Mike Tomlin, who was certainly his biggest supporter from the time that he realized we can get this guy for a veteran minimum deal, bring him…
— Blitzburgh (@Blitz_Burgh) January 15, 2025
Wilson and Fields are set to hit free agency as the Steelers head into the offseason. Pittsburgh faces tough choices, as neither quarterback has done enough to run away with the starting job.
In his Tuesday press conference, Tomlin addressed the team’s shortcomings.
“I’m certainly disappointed that I’m not working to prepare to play this week,” he said.
“I certainly understand the frustrations and, probably more important than that, I share them. Because that’s how I’m wired. I’m not a big-time comfort seeker, and particularly in circumstances such as this, I don’t view myself as a comfort provider because words are hollow. It’s about what we do.”
Fans remain skeptical, given that it’s not their first rodeo with Pittsburgh’s troubled connection between quarterback and coordinator. The organization’s ability to bounce back next season will hinge on decisive leadership—and, perhaps, finding the right quarterback to lead the charge.