As the Pittsburgh Steelers weigh their quarterback options ahead of the 2025 NFL season, former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky believes that one key player should walk away from the team entirely.
The Steelers are entering free agency without a clear-cut starting quarterback under contract. While they have expressed interest in bringing back either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields, reports suggest they are leaning toward Fields as their preferred option.
However, Orlovsky believes Fields should look elsewhere—even if the Steelers want him back.
Orlovsky: “I Wouldn’t Go Back” If I Were Fields
During Monday morning’s edition of ESPN’s Get Up, Orlovsky made a strong case for why Fields should refuse to re-sign with Pittsburgh, citing the way the Steelers handled him during the 2024 season.
“If I’m Justin Fields, I respectfully am not going back to the Steelers,” Orlovsky stated. “I did everything you asked me to do when you had me as your starting quarterback—maybe a little bit by default because of the injury in training camp to Russell Wilson. I had us at 4-2, we had beaten playoff teams, and then you benched me.”
Orlovsky pointed out that Fields had the Steelers off to a strong start, only for head coach Mike Tomlin to abruptly turn back to Wilson once he was fully healthy.
“Then it started really hot for Russell Wilson, and then it calmed down a little bit, and you never gave me the opportunity to get back on the field,” Orlovsky continued. “Respectfully, I want to go give myself an opportunity to play. I don’t trust, necessarily, what you’re telling me right now in this process. So if I’m Justin Fields, I want to go elsewhere.”
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Steelers’ Quarterback Dilemma: Fields vs. Wilson vs. a Mystery Veteran
The Steelers’ quarterback situation has been a rollercoaster over the past year.
After acquiring Wilson in free agency last offseason, the Steelers seemingly committed to him as their long-term starter. However, when Wilson suffered an injury during training camp, Fields took over and performed admirably, leading Pittsburgh to a 4-2 record and wins against playoff-caliber teams.
Despite Fields’ success, Tomlin made the controversial decision to hand the starting job back to Wilson once he recovered. Wilson then won six of his first seven starts, but Pittsburgh stumbled down the stretch, losing four consecutive games to close out the regular season.
Now, with free agency looming, Pittsburgh must decide whether to commit to Fields, stick with Wilson, or explore other options. Fields, who is 10 years younger than Wilson, offers more long-term upside, which is reportedly why the Steelers favor him over the veteran QB.
However, new reports suggest that an even older quarterback has entered the Steelers’ mix, making Fields’ future in Pittsburgh even more uncertain.
Does Fields Have a Better Opportunity Elsewhere?
Now we know that Fields has opted to sign with the New York Jets, putting an end to any speculation he’d sign with the Steelers. Only time will tell if Fields’ decision to not return to Pittsburgh will pay off.