The Pittsburgh Steelers’ pursuit of Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields began after their incumbent quarterback, Kenny Pickett, expressed a desire for a fresh start. Our Insider reported that Fields had identified three other preferred destinations ahead of the 2024 free agency period: the Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders, and Minnesota Vikings.
While Russell Wilson is expected to be the starting quarterback for the Steelers, Fields will have the opportunity to compete for first-team reps after spending three seasons with the Bears. However, the Falcons moved swiftly to sign Kirk Cousins, the Vikings added Sam Darnold and acquired an extra first-round pick, and the Raiders signed Gardner Minshew and are considering drafting a quarterback.
Ultimately, Fields landed with the Steelers in exchange for a conditional 2025 sixth-round draft pick. This move allowed the Bears to focus on selecting a new quarterback with the No. 1 pick in the draft.
As the trade was finalized, the Steelers communicated their plans for the quarterback position to both Fields and Wilson, indicating that Wilson would initially hold the starting role but leaving room for potential competition in the future.
