Quarterback hasn’t enjoyed the best debut season with the Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves at a crossroads after a disappointing Wild Card loss to the Baltimore Ravens extended their playoff drought to eight years.
The team stumbled to a 10-7 record, capped by five straight losses. At the center of the storm is quarterback Russell Wilson, whose late-season performance has left fans and analysts alike questioning his future in Pittsburgh.
In the season’s final five weeks, Wilson ranked 30th out of 31 quarterbacks in EPA per dropback-a statistic that underscores his struggles. Disillusioned fans have gone so far as to suggest it might be time for him to retire, but Wilson remains optimistic.
“I’ve got so much more ball left in me,” he declared.
The Steelers’ front office hasn’t confirmed whether Wilson will return in 2025, leaving his future with the team uncertain. With the season ending in disappointment and a potential contract extension on the line, it’s unclear if Pittsburgh is willing to gamble on him again.
Wilson’s time in Pittsburgh has been difficult
The decision to bring Wilson to the Steel City was initially met with cautious optimism. Early in the season, he showed flashes of his old self, but as the year progressed, his performance regressed. Former Giants scout Marc Ross summed it up bluntly.
“Russ fooled them for a game or two, and then he went back to being the Russ I’ve seen over the last few years,” Ross declared.
The playoff loss to the Ravens was a microcosm of the Steelers’ issues. Baltimore ran for 299 yards, building a 21-0 lead by halftime, while Pittsburgh had no answers. Wilson’s stat line-20-of-29 for 270 yards and two touchdowns-looked respectable but failed to make a meaningful impact.
Adding to Wilson’s struggles, he was sacked 33 times this season, ranking fourth in the NFL since he became the starter in Week 7. The offensive line’s woes, combined with Wilson’s inability to adapt, contributed to a season that spiraled out of control.
Looking ahead, Pittsburgh faces a difficult decision at quarterback. Drafting near the middle of the first round limits their chances of landing a top-tier prospect, and the 2025 QB class isn’t considered particularly strong. Do they stick with Wilson, bring in a veteran like Aaron Rodgers or Kirk Cousins, or take a chance on developing a younger player?
"It's time for Mike Tomlin to go somewhere else, it's time for the Pittsburgh Steelers to turn to someone else in order to lead their franchise."@ChrisCanty99 via @UnSportsESPN pic.twitter.com/QdYSlYYudl
— ESPN Radio (@ESPNRadio) January 13, 2025
Some critics argue the Steelers should have passed on Wilson entirely, opting instead for a younger, more versatile quarterback like Justin Fields. While Fields would have required patience and likely resulted in a rare losing season for Mike Tomlin, it might have set the team up for long-term success.
Head coach Mike Tomlin is also under intense scrutiny. Despite an impressive .630 win percentage and never having a losing season in his 17-year tenure, his postseason record tells a different story. Since 2010, Tomlin has gone 3-10 in the playoffs, and the Steelers haven’t hoisted the Lombardi Trophy since 2008.