The Steelers usually pay attention when Mike Tomlin speaks. Because he didn’t just make them win games, he eliminated the losing seasons entirely. No head coach in NFL history has ever begun a career with a longer streak of non-losing seasons. A Super Bowl ring and the sort of respect that makes everybody silent in a crowded NFL locker room. However, even empires have cracks. And that silence began to sound like hostility by the end of the 2024 season.
What began as a ‘trust-the-process’ quarterback experiment progressively evolved into a significant identity crisis. The Steelers’ season ended, and with it the once-unwavering aura around Tomlin. For the first time in a long time, a troubling report is coming out of Pittsburgh that Mike Tomlin was not just questioned but outright opposed.
NFL expert Albert Breer claims that the choice to continue riding with Russell Wilson while benching a productive Justin Fields caused a split inside the organization. “I think people (in Pittsburgh’s organization) would tell you that the Russell Wilson thing undermined so many things in the last month of the season, and that a lot of that building really wanted them to go back to Justin Fields… Tomlin was kind of all on his own on that one,” Breer said. The kind of quote that would make you sit up straight on The Bill Simmons Podcast. This dispute wasn’t a quiet one. This was a cold war in cleats.
Credits: Imago
The numbers back the dissent. Justin Fields was 4–2 as the starter, throwing for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns, and just one interception. He scored 5 touchdowns on the ground and 231 rushing yards before being benched for a veteran with more impressive stats (6–1 record, 1,784 yards, 12 TDs, 3 INTs).
But in the locker room, that impression was questionable. Fields’ press conference with the Jets was a masterful example of controlled displeasure. Even though he never voiced any public grievances, he gave subtle hints: “It was different for me and a space I wasn’t really comfortable. But Coach Tomlin made a decision he thought was best for the team.”
Mike Tomlin did make an effort to re-sign him despite everything. But Justin Fields reportedly declined a similar deal from Pittsburgh in favour of the Jets. Fields refused to accept the Steelers’ matching the Jets’ two-year, $40 million contract, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Arthur Smith, the offensive coordinator, was devastated.
According to James Palmer, Smith “really wanted Fields to stay” and thought he could “get him some playoff wins.” But the player had moved on, and so had the trust inside the building. But if the locker room was divided by the Fields incident, the front office’s confidence is being undermined by the current quarterback search.
Ben Roethlisberger rejects Mike Tomlin’s pricey backup plan
The solution to Mike Tomlin’s problems: Aaron Rodgers. He remained on Pittsburgh’s radar for months, had a “productive meeting” with Tomlin, and even considered joining. But Rodgers is still in a limbo, either dragging his feet through OTAs or teasing retirement. So the Steelers needed a backup plan. Due to a miscast contract, Atlanta drama, and a heartfelt ‘no thanks’ from Pittsburgh royalty, Kirk Cousins enters the picture.
But not everyone clapped at their decision. On the Footbahlin podcast, Ben Roethlisberger dismissed the idea of Cousins to Pittsburgh, saying, “I would have earlier. Not now… Now you just want someone here that’s going to get reps and start practicing.” Big Ben’s problem? The price. Adam Schefter claims that the Falcons “asked for any acquiring team to pay $20 million of the $45 million worth of guarantees left on Cousins’ contract.” And for Ben? That’s a hard pass: “I can’t see that happen.”
Instead, Roethlisberger doubled down on his belief that Mason Rudolph is “ready to go” as the QB1. That speaks volumes. A franchise legend is not only turning down Kirk Cousins, but he’s also choosing Rudolph over a four-time Pro Bowler with playoff experience.
Meanwhile, Rodgers had also reportedly told the Vikings that he would accept $10 million to play in Minnesota. And would only return to Pittsburgh as a last resort. That discount doesn’t seem to have affected Big Ben or the locker room.
But the silence surrounding Rodgers is starting to feel eerily similar to the frustration that built during Fields’ benching. Now that mandatory minicamp is coming up and there isn’t a clear QB1, Mike Tomlin’s control is being put to the test once more. And this time, not even the franchise’s most respected voices are backing his blueprint.
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