As a pair of former Big Ten quarterbacks, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields have known each other for quite some time.
Little did they know this offseason would lead to them playing on the same team, as both joined the Steelers this offseason.
The Steelers signed Wilson, a Wisconsin alumni, in free agency, then made a trade with the Eagles, shipping former starting quarterback Kenny Pickett to Philadelphia and acquiring former Ohio State star Fields via another trade with the Chicago Bears.
When the additions of Kyle Allen in free agency and rookie John Rhys Plumlee also are factored in, the Steelers have an all-new quarterback room for 2024.
Head coach Mike Tomlin has been taking a crash course on getting to know his new quarterbacks over the past month or so – something that ramped up on Tuesday as the team began the next phase of OTAs, which includes players on the field working with the coaching staff.
"I have but that's been ongoing," Tomlin said. "It just didn't start today. Those guys have been really good in terms of their participation and engagement. It's been a fun process. It's been a fun process to get to know them and really the way that you get to know someone professionally is to share experiences. And so the things that we're doing out here are critical to get to the process."
In that regard, Wilson and Fields are ahead of the curve with each other. Though they are separated in age by a decade, Wilson, 35, and the 25-year-old Fields have a relationship that goes back to Fields' days in college.
Wilson, then still with the Seattle Seahawks, reached out to Fields and the two have stayed in touch since.
"We've known each other for a good bit now, and the fact that I get to learn stuff from him and know that the things that he's accomplished up to this point in his career has been great," Fields said. "So I'm just learning little details, how he's so meticulous and the way he pays attention to detail within every rep. That really just kind of makes me think like, you know, that's what I should be doing each and every time so I'm glad to have him here and glad to be able to learn from him."
Wilson's glad to have Fields around, too.
"We used to text each other all the time," Wilson said. "Everything is now in the same room, so every day I'm trying to be my best so I can also show him and vice versa. And we're just continuing to challenge one another, be the best version we can be for this football team."
While Tomlin has repeatedly said Wilson will open in pole position in terms of being the Steelers' starter, the veteran isn't taking anything for granted. And he and Fields will push each other throughout the process.
"I think every day you look to be the best version of you," Wilson said. "I think that's always the competition internally, and then you're always competing against the other, 31 other teams, and so I think that you step on the field with that mentality. Nothing should ever change. So, that's how I've always looked at it. And that's the part I embrace."
Fields hasn't accomplished the things Wilson has in his career. But he'd like to.
And so, he'll put his foot forward and see where it measures against Wilson.
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"I'm definitely competing," Fields said. "I think Russ knows that we're competing against each other every day. Him being out there pushing me, that has to make you get better, especially to each other. I definitely don't have the mindset of me just sitting all year. So I'm coming in every day and giving it all I've got and pushing him to be his best, and he's pushing me to be my best each and every day. I appreciate that."
In the meantime, the two new quarterbacks add a different feeling to the team's roster.
Both have lived through the pressure of being a No. 1 quarterback for a team And that makes a difference.
"They're professionals. And so I'm excited about that," Tomlin said. "But I'm not surprised by it. There's an expectation there. Both guys have been franchise-like guys, if you will. They've gotten out of their cars in the morning and worn the responsibility of being that guy for a franchise and so there's residual benefit from that. And so I'm excited about us receiving it."
It's already started for the Steelers.
Wilson and a number of his receivers worked out together this offseason in San Diego. And he's clearly been accepted quickly as a leader given his experience in the game.
"I felt great about everything," Wilson said of the on-field OTA session Tuesday. "The chemistry was great. I think the guys were in and out of the huddle. They're working their butts off. You know, we're going to get better as we go, and that's a good thing. We've got to keep that edge. I think that's really important along the way. And so I think the best thing was to get to go against one of the best defenses in the world, you know, every day, so it's gonna make us better. It's going to rise."
