Becker: Steelers Future Is Now and It’s Russell Wilson

The Steelers had a big question mark at quarterback entering the 2024 season, but the answer is now clear and it’s Russell Wilson.

CINCINNATI — The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the 2024 season with three quarterbacks on one-year deals — Russell Wilson, Justin Fields and Kyle Allen. However, who their starter will be past this year became even clearer in the team’s 44-38 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, and the answer is resoundingly Wilson.

The newly-turned 36-year-old seems to have turned back the clock since taking over as the Steelers starter in Week 7 and Sunday proved no different. Wilson threw for the second-most yards (414) in his 13-year NFL career while also becoming the Steelers first quarterback with 400+ pass yards in a game since Ben Roethlisberger in 2018.

Wilson may have just turned 36, but he doesn’t feel like that at all.

“I just turned 36 the other day. I feel like I’m 26, maybe I’m 30,” Wilson said. “But I think the best part about it is we’re having fun, man. We’re having a blast doing it.”

The Steelers do not typically engage in contract talks during the season, so a new deal for Wilson will have to wait, but it’s one that seems inevitable at this point.

Wilson’s play has done most of the talking, but his offensive teammates, who have longed to get back to being a feared unit, are starting to speak up for their quarterback, too.

Steelers running back Najee Harris said the difference between Wilson and the other quarterbacks he’s played with since Roethlisberger retired aren’t even comparable.

“Times I’ve been here, other than Ben (Roethlisberger), we had younger quarterbacks, just not a lot of experience with the game. I think that’s one thing Russ has, just his knowledge of the game,” Harris said. “We need that kind of veteran guy and that’s Russ.”

That message hasn’t been only preached on the offense, though. Linebacker T.J. Watt, who has yet to win a playoff game in his eight-year NFL career, knows the Steelers offense is different with Wilson at the helm.

“Elite defenses spend a lot of time on the bench. I’ve said that ever since I’ve been here,” Watt said. “We’ve been spending a lot of time on the bench this year and it’s been great to see the offense continuing to move the ball like they are.”

It remains to be seen how far the Steelers can actually go this season, but they currently sit atop the AFC North at 9-3 with a good chance of winning it.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 1, 2024 — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Wilson may be on the back end of his career, but he gives Pittsburgh the best chance to win now and in the near future.

A Wilson extension would likely mean Fields’ time with the Steelers would be capped at just one year, but Wilson believes Fields is in store for bigger things than just being a backup, anyway.

“He’s a franchise quarterback in how he goes about his business,” Wilson said. “I love being in the room with him.”

A two- or three-year deal would make sense for both sides this offseason, keeping the Steelers Super Bowl window open for a little bit longer.

Harris is just happy that the offense can now be a reason why that is the case, too.

“Our times being here, we didn’t really score a lot of points,” Harris said. “It would always be low-scoring games and struggling a lot, but I just think that when we really come together and we know what we’re capable of, we can go far.”