The Steelers have always been touted as a model of consistency in the NFL. At the quarterback position, however, recent history shows that is far from the case.
The Steelers have used five different quarterbacks since two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger retired following the 2022-23 season. Pittsburgh has opted for a short-term lease again by signing 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers to be their starting quarterback for the 2024-25 season.
Rodgers will lead an offense that has the potential to be dangerous this season, especially after acquiring two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver D.K. Metcalf from Seattle.
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Regardless of who’s been the signal caller, the Steelers have reached the postseason in seven of the last 10 seasons, so Rodgers will have that going for him. But the quarterback play needs to elevate for Pittsburgh to be a serious Super Bowl contender. Here’s a closer look at the Steelers quarterback timeline since Ben Roethlisberger retired.
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Steelers timeline of starting QBs
2022
- Kenny Pickett (12 starts)
- Mitchell Trubisky (5 starts)
The 2022 season was the first without Roethlisberger on the Steelers’ roster since 2003. Pittsburgh drafted Pickett out of Pitt with the No. 20 overall pick in the draft hoping he could be the next franchise quarterback. Trubisky started the first four games before being benched in favor of the rookie.
Pickett played well enough to lead the Steelers to a 9-8 record, keeping their streak of 19 consecutive non-losing seasons alive, but Pittsburgh missed the playoffs after losing a tiebreaker to the Dolphins.
2023
- Kenny Pickett (12 starts)
- Mason Rudolph (3 starts)
- Mitchell Trubisky (2 starts)
Pickett didn’t make much progress in his second season as the starter, and the Steelers had an identical 7-5 record through his first 12 games of 2023 as compared to 2022. He injured his ankle in Week 13 against the Cardinals and did not play for the rest of the season.
Trubisky started the next two games against the Patriots and Colts, both losses, before Mason Rudolph took over the offense in Week 16. The Steelers snuck into the playoffs with a Week 18 win over the Ravens but lost to the Bills in the AFC Wild Card game, 31-17.
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2024
- Russell Wilson (11 starts)
- Justin Fields (6 starts)
The Steelers cleaned house at the quarterback position following the 2023-24 season, dealing Pickett to the Eagles and releasing Trubisky and Rudolph. They brought in new blood by signing Russell Wilson and Justin Fields after they struggled in their previous stops in Denver and Chicago, respectively.
Fields started the first six games and looked as comfortable as he ever had in his career, leading the Steelers to a 4-2 record. Tomlin, however, opted to start Wilson after he returned from injury. The 2014 Super Bowl champion led Pittsburgh to three straight wins before the team’s Week 9 bye, but the Steelers faded down the final stretch of the season, losing the last four games of the regular season and the AFC Wild Card game to the Ravens 28-14.
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