The Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback situation for 2025 remains a mystery, but ESPN’s Kimberly Martin has strong doubts about the prospect of Russell Wilson stepping back into that role. During a recent appearance on Get Up, Martin didn’t hold back her skepticism.
“I would be very surprised,” she shared with the panel. “We’ve seen what Russell Wilson brings to the table, and I’m not convinced the Steelers are keen on revisiting that storyline. The team needs a clear path forward, and I just don’t see Russell fitting into that picture.”
Martin’s view echoes many in the NFL community, both locally and nationally, although Adam Schefter from ESPN seems to leave a slight door open for Wilson’s return, unlike most others.
Wilson, meanwhile, has been vocal about his desire to remain with the Steelers, likely wanting to avoid jumping to his third team in as many years. If Pittsburgh doesn’t work out, his alternatives appear limited. The New York Giants could be an option, but with only three wins in a tough NFC East, Wilson might not be the game-changer they need. Though a reunion with Pete Carroll at the Las Vegas Raiders might seem appealing, insiders like Jay Glazer and Schefter have been pretty dismissive of that possibility.
Gerry Dulac from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette mentioned earlier this week that the Steelers are currently deliberating on their 2025 roster. Quarterback decisions top the list, alongside considerations for critical free agents like running back Najee Harris and cornerback Donte Jackson. Next week’s NFL Combine is a pivotal moment for franchise strategies, with all 32 teams and countless agents converging, making it a critical period ahead of the new league year.
It seems likely that Pittsburgh will re-sign one of its 2024 starting quarterbacks, whether that’s Wilson or Justin Fields. Yet, the team’s past actions show they’re not afraid to shake things up. Just last season, they switched gears from planning for Kenny Pickett versus Mason Rudolph to overhauling their quarterback lineup, even as they intended to hold onto Pickett until he requested a trade.
Whatever happens, the Steelers will almost certainly need to secure a reliable backup for either Wilson or Fields. Since Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement, they’ve used multiple starting quarterbacks each season; indeed, the last time Pittsburgh went through a season with a single starting QB was back in 2018.
