On Tuesday, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith did not want Russell Wilson changing plays at the line of scrimmage despite the QB's big game in the Week 13 win over Cincinnati . The Steelers scored a season-high 44 points against the Bengals and Wilson posted an impressive 414 yards passing to go along with three touchdown passes.
Wilson's desire to attack with the pass and throw down the field clashed with Smith's run-first mentality, caused philosophical friction between the two, according to Dulac.
The Steelers failed to score more than 17 points during the five-game losing streak to end the season, a streak that hasn't occurred since Chuck Noll's first season in 1969. Wilson also struggled immensely during the late-season collapse.
Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Bart Scott thinks Russell Wilson can't come back to Pittsburgh , especially after what happened at the end of the season and the reported friction that he had with Smith.
"You're telling a potentially borderline Hall of Fame quarterback that he doesn't have any options at the line of scrimmage. That's something that works for Justin Fields , but I think that Russell Wilson is too accomplished to be able to tell him that narrative," Scott said on Get Up Wednesday morning . "You're telling him to go up to the line of scrimmage and do as I say and not be able to use any of his football acumen. This is a guy who won a Super Bowl. So I don't think that Russell Wilson can come back with this because how can you operate under those conditions?"
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 1, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The Steelers would like to sign one of their two incumbent quarterbacks to a long-term contract this offseason, president Art Rooney II said during his annual press conference with local beat writers last Monday.
Rooney said that he think it's unlikely that the Steelers will sign both of them, and that his preference would be for more than the one-year deal both players played under in 2024.
"I think they're both capable quarterbacks and my preference would be to sign one of them," Rooney said. "So that'll be the priority, and I think that will give us the best opportunity to move forward."
Fields threw for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and just one interception while leading the Steelers to a 4-2 start to the 2024 season. He also rushed for 231 yards and five touchdowns during the span.
Fields was eventually benched for Wilson once he was finally healthy from his calf injury . Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin thought Wilson gave the team the best chance to compete for a Super Bowl, but that obviously wasn't the case.
Fields' mobility matches up better with what Smith wants to do offensively, so it wouldn't be surprising if the Steelers ride with Fields in 2025. He's most likely to be a cheaper option than Wilson, too .
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