Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin’s decision to drop Justin Fields for Russell Wilson drew wide criticism – but the two quarterbacks have maintained their support for each other.

Fields started the 2024 season and led the Steelers to a 4-2 start while Wilson recovered from a calf injury sustained in training camp. However, once the 35-year-old recovered, Fields was dropped in favor of the former Seattle Seahawk and Super Bowl champion.

FOX Sports’ Terry Bradshaw was left baffled by Tomlin’s decision. “I totally disagree with this decision by Mike Tomlin,” Bradshaw said. “I would stay with Fields. Fields fits this team’s personality.

“They like to run the football. He’s a big strong running quarterback, athletic enough, but also a guy that can move the football through the air. I don’t understand the move.”

However, Wilson got off to a winning start, a 37-15 win over the New York Jets, and alongside Fields’ he’s working hard to fire Pittsburgh to the postseason. The Steelers are 5-2 and second in the AFC North behind the Baltimore Ravens.

Pittsburgh defensive lineman Cam Heyward gave insight into the relationship between the two quarterbacks. “Between Russ and Justin, they’ve always supported each other,” Heyward told Not Just Football. “The media and people outside the locker room have pitted these guys against each other.

“They’ve been very supporting of each other, and they’ve made the team the team. That’s all that’s mattered, and I’m appreciative of it. It doesn’t bring any extra drama. They just come in for business and they both come in ready to perform.”

Fields was dropped for Wilson despite a 4-2 start

Fields was dropped for Wilson despite a 4-2 start ( 

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Getty)

The Steelers have a favorable matchup on Monday Night Football. They’ll host the 2-5 New York Giants in Pittsburgh. Wilson has admitted heading into the game that he’s willing to step off the field at times to allow Pittsburgh to utilize Fields’ obvious talent with his feet.

“Yeah, I think, first of all, Justin [Fields is] such a tremendous football player,” Wilson told the media on Thursday. “For us, it’s really about us winning, and him getting in there and playing ball [and] when and if he does, I know he’ll do great.

“There’s always the different things we talk about. How he gets in there, how we do this, how we do that, if that ever comes up. But I just think the biggest thing is just, it’s all about us together. That’s really how I think about it.”