Steelers $18 million backup predicted to leave Pittsburgh for dumpster fire team

The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the 2024 season hoping that one of their two new quarterbacks, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, would prove to be the answer the franchise desperately needed under center.

Fields began the year as the starter after Wilson, who was named the starter prior to his injury, got hurt, and the former first-round pick answered the bell. Granted, he wasn’t great by any means, but Fields was able to lead the Steelers to a 4-2 mark until Wilson returned.

From there, Wilson has proven to be a massive upgrade over Fields and has completely locked down the starting job for at least the rest of this season.

With Fields’ prospects of being the Steelers’ long-term starter just about dead after the emergence of Wilson, he’s likely to look elsewhere for employment in 2025, and more specifically with a team that gives him a chance to start.

One of those teams could be the New York Jets, who look like they might be headed for a divorce with Aaron Rodgers. With that in mind, Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine sees Fields ending up in New York.

So much of what the Jets want to do this offseason will depend on whether Rodgers is back and who the head coach is going to be. If the quarterback is going come back and the Jets are game for another run with the veteran, then they will likely draft a backup signal-caller who could take over.

But if the partnership is over, then the Jets may want to find a bridge quarterback who can allow them to take their time with a rookie at the position. That might be a good job for Justin Fields. His run with Pittsburgh provided enough intrigue to get another crack at being a starter. If anything, his athleticism and running ability would give the offense a higher floor while a rookie prepares to start.

The Jets will almost certainly explore adding a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft, but they would be wise to give themselves a bridge option just in case. Fields would be perfect for that role.

Not only would Fields give the Jets an insurance policy in the event they don’t land a quarterback in the draft, or if New York takes one that isn’t ready to start, he is young enough to be a long-term solution if everything works out.

It isn’t impossible for Fields to return to the Steelers, but it remains unlikely with Wilson in line to return for a second season as Pittsburgh’s starter. With the Jets able to offer Fields a chance to start in the event that Rodgers doesn’t return, Pittsburgh’s current backup landing in New York is a real possibility.