Steelers owner prefers to re-sign one of Wilson, Fields
Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II said he'd prefer the club bring back either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields, but retaining both quarterbacks is "unlikely."
"They're both capable quarterbacks, and my preference would be to sign one of them," Rooney said Monday, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor. "So that'll be the priority, and I think that will give us the best opportunity to move forward."
He added, "I think both of them see themselves as starters, and I don't know that they want to share the same job again next year. So, I would say most likely we probably don't wind up bringing them both back."
Both Wilson and Fields will be unrestricted free agents this offseason after one year with the Steelers. Pittsburgh signed Wilson to a one-year, $1.2-million deal in 2024 after the Denver Broncos cut the veteran. The Steelers then swapped a conditional sixth-round pick to the Chicago Bears for Fields later in the offseason.
Wilson said after the team's season-ending wild-card loss to the Baltimore Ravens that being a member of the Steelers was a "blessing" and he hoped to return.
Pittsburgh went 6-6 in Wilson's 12 starts, including the playoff loss to the Ravens. Wilson held a 6-1 record as a starter entering the stretch run, but the Steelers lost five straight contests to end the season.
Fields started the campaign's first six games as Wilson nursed a calf injury, going 4-2. Fields threw for 1,116 yards and scored 10 total touchdowns while throwing just one interception in 2024. Meanwhile, Wilson passed for 2,482 yards with 16 TDs against five picks in 11 regular-season appearances.
Rooney acknowledged that the Steelers will take the ages of the respective quarterbacks into consideration; Wilson is 36 years old, while Fields is about to turn 26.
The owner added that he'd prefer to have a quarterback signed to a multi-year deal this offseason and wouldn't be surprised if they drafted a QB.
"We've got a whole quarterback room to fill, and so there's jobs open in there," Rooney said.
The Steelers hold the 21st overall pick in this year's draft and are set to begin the offseason with $40.5 million in cap space.