Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin previously mentioned this offseason that Russell Wilson was in the “lead position” to be the starting quarterback for the team. On Wednesday, Tomlin confirmed that Wilson has officially secured that role.

The Steelers made the announcement that Russell Wilson is their starting quarterback. This marks Wilson’s third team as a starter in his NFL career.

Wilson joined the Steelers with a one-year contract in March. He was competing with Justin Fields, who was traded to Pittsburgh from the Chicago Bears earlier that month. Wilson faced a calf injury that limited his participation during most of the Steelers’ training camp, allowing Fields to challenge for the starting position.

After recovering, both Wilson and Fields had inconsistent performances during training camp and preseason. Ultimately, Tomlin chose the 35-year-old veteran as the starter.

“Every day, I strive to bring my energy, focus, and experience to this team,” Wilson stated to reporters on Wednesday. “When I’m on the field, my goal is to be the best version of myself.”

Wilson was the starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks for the first decade of his career. He holds numerous passing records for the franchise and was instrumental in leading the Seahawks to a Super Bowl victory in 2014.

In 2022, the Seahawks traded Wilson to the Denver Broncos. His time in Denver was marked by disappointment, as he ended up with an 11-19 record before being released, resulting in an unprecedented $85 million dead cap hit for the team.

Over the course of his career, Wilson has amassed 43,653 passing yards, thrown 334 touchdown passes, and recorded 106 interceptions across 188 games, with an impressive career passer rating of 100.

Why did the Steelers choose Russell Wilson over Justin Fields?

Wilson brings valuable experience and leadership to a Steelers team that has been searching for a strong starting quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger’s departure. Although Wilson struggled with the Broncos under head coach Sean Payton last season, he has a solid track record of protecting the football and has received commendation from the Steelers’ new offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, for his understanding of Pittsburgh’s strategy.

“Arthur (Smith) has been exceptional. His grasp of the game and our approach to running plays and utilizing play action has been remarkable,” Wilson commented. “I have a lot of respect for his intelligence, and I’m excited about what’s to come this season.”

The Steelers will begin their season on the road against the Atlanta Falcons. In Week 2, Wilson will have the chance to face off against his former team, the Broncos.

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