The Pittsburgh Steelers are rarely a "drama" team in the way the Cowboys or Jets are, but the 2024 season felt different from the jump. You had a future Hall of Famer in Russell Wilson arriving on a veteran minimum deal. You had a former first-round pick in Justin Fields coming in via trade with Chicago. It was a collision course. For a long time, the narrative was set: Wilson was the guy. Mike Tomlin even called it "pole position."
But then, everything stalled.
Honestly, if you were watching the headlines in September, it felt like the Russell Wilson era in Pittsburgh might be over before it even started. The reason Russell Wilson couldn't be starting for the Steelers in 2024 during those opening weeks wasn't about a lack of talent or a locker room revolt. It was a calf. A stubborn, annoying, thirty-five-year-old calf muscle that just wouldn't cooperate.
It’s crazy how one conditioning test can change an entire season’s trajectory.
The Sled, the Calf, and the "Short-Term Misery"
It started at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. You’d think a nine-time Pro Bowler would be safe during a basic conditioning test, but Russ was pushing a sled when he felt it. Tightness.
Coach Mike Tomlin is famous for his "Tomlin-isms," and he immediately labeled the decision to sit Wilson as creating "short-term misery" to avoid a long-term disaster. The plan was simple: let the veteran rest, let the young guy (Fields) get some reps, and be ready for Week 1 in Atlanta.
Except the calf didn't get the memo.
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Every time it looked like Wilson was ready to go, he’d "feel something funny." That’s the thing about soft tissue injuries when you’re 35. You can’t just "Danger-Russ" your way through them. If he had suited up and torn that calf completely, his season would have been over in September. So, even though he was named the official starter in late August, he stayed on the sidelines.
Why the Steelers Stuck With Justin Fields Early On
While Wilson was getting treatment, Justin Fields was actually playing. And he was winning.
Basically, the Steelers found themselves in a weird spot. They started 3-0. Fields wasn't lighting the world on fire with 400-yard passing games, but he wasn't turning the ball over either. He was using his legs, playing "Arthur Smith football," and letting the defense—led by T.J. Watt—smother people.
You’ve gotta feel for Wilson here. He was brought in to be the savior, the "adult in the room" after the Kenny Pickett era ended in a weird, messy divorce. Instead, he was wearing a baseball cap on the sidelines while a guy ten years younger took his job by default.
- Week 1: Wilson is inactive; Fields wins in Atlanta.
- Weeks 2-5: Wilson is the "emergency third QB" or the backup.
- The Vibe: Fans start wondering if Russ will ever actually take a snap.
There was a real sense of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." But Tomlin is nothing if not stubborn about his evaluations. He knew that while Fields was 4-2 as a starter, the offense was still "clunky." They were settling for way too many Chris Boswell field goals. They needed a deep ball. They needed the moon balls that made Wilson famous in Seattle.
The Turning Point: Week 7 Against the Jets
The reason the phrase "Russell Wilson couldn't be starting for the Steelers in 2024" eventually faded into the background is because Tomlin finally pulled the trigger in October. It was a massive gamble.
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I remember the Sunday Night Football game against the New York Jets. The crowd at Acrisure Stadium actually booed Wilson early on. They wanted Fields. They thought Wilson was washed. And for the first quarter? He looked it. He was rusty. His timing was off.
Then, it clicked.
Wilson finished that game with 264 yards and two touchdowns. He looked like the guy the Broncos thought they were getting two years ago. He was hitting George Pickens on those high-arc passes that only he seems to throw. Suddenly, the "calf injury" was a footnote, and the Steelers' offense looked... dare I say... explosive?
The Truth About the "Competition"
Look, there’s been a lot of talk about whether there was a "rift" between Wilson and the coaching staff. Some reports, like those from Steelers Depot or Sports Illustrated, hinted that things got tense toward the end of the year, especially during a late-season slide where the team lost five straight.
But for the bulk of 2024, the "couldn't start" narrative was purely medical.
The Steelers' front office, led by Omar Khan, basically got Wilson for free because the Broncos were paying his massive salary. It was a low-risk, high-reward move. When he was healthy, he was the better pure passer. When he was hurt, Fields provided a dynamic rushing threat that kept the team afloat.
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What This Means for 2025 and Beyond
If you're looking for the "so what" of this whole saga, it’s about the future of the position in Pittsburgh. Wilson proved he still has the arm, but the late-season collapse—where the offense went quiet for five games—showed that he might not be a long-term solution.
The relationship with Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith is the real thing to watch. There were rumors that Wilson’s camp wanted more control over the offense, while Smith wanted to stick to his run-heavy, tight-end-centric scheme. That kind of friction is exactly why Wilson ended up moving on to the Giants for the 2025 season.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
- Don't ignore the "Conditioning Test": In the modern NFL, these tiny moments in July dictate who starts in September. If a veteran skips the "sled," they might just save their season.
- Trust the "Pole Position": When a coach like Mike Tomlin tells you someone is the starter, believe him—even if an injury delays it by six weeks. He was never going to let Justin Fields keep that job unless Fields played like an MVP.
- Watch the Deep Ball: Wilson’s value in 2024 was entirely tied to his ability to keep defenses from "stacking the box" against Najee Harris. Even when he was struggling, his threat of the deep pass changed how teams played the Steelers.
The 2024 season was a rollercoaster. It started with Wilson's calf, moved through the "Justin Fields Experience," and ended with a veteran proving he wasn't done yet—even if the ending wasn't a fairy tale.
If you're tracking how NFL teams manage aging superstars, the Steelers' 2024 quarterback room is the ultimate case study in patience and pragmatism. Wilson eventually got his start, but those first six weeks were a masterclass in how an injury can derail the best-laid plans of a franchise.
Determine if the Steelers' current roster can support a veteran QB like Aaron Rodgers or if they need to finally draft a franchise cornerstone. Evaluate the performance of the young offensive line, specifically Zach Frazier and Broderick Jones, as their development will dictate the success of whoever is under center next.