Steelers’ QB Drama: Wilson-Smith Tensions Surface After Season Collapse

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — The Pittsburgh Steelers‘ tumultuous 2024 season, marred by a five-game losing streak, has been further complicated by reports of a strained relationship between quarterback Russell Wilson and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. The revelations emerged following head coach Mike Tomlin‘s season-ending press conference, where he acknowledged the need to uncover the root causes of the team’s late-season collapse.

According to a report by The Athletic, Wilson and Smith “did not have a very good working relationship but fought through their differences as best they could.” The tension reportedly stemmed from Smith’s preference for Justin Fields, who led the Steelers to a 4-2 start before Wilson took over as the starter. Despite winning six of his first seven starts, Wilson’s performance declined sharply during the losing streak, with the offense failing to score more than 17 points in any of those games.

Wilson’s struggles were particularly evident in his limited mobility and reliance on deep throws, which became predictable and ineffective. In a Week 15 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Wilson rushed for 55 yards and a touchdown, but his ability to scramble vanished in the final two games. A pivotal moment came during the wild-card round loss to the Baltimore Ravens, when Wilson was tackled short of a first down by 33-year-old linebacker Kyle Van Noy, forcing a punt and highlighting his diminished impact.

Tomlin and Smith have both praised Fields, who remains a contender for the starting role in 2025. “I still view Justin, and he is, I think, [a] premium starter in this league,” Smith said in November. Tomlin echoed this sentiment, stating that Fields has proven himself capable of leading the team.

With both Wilson and Fields entering free agency, the Steelers face a critical decision at quarterback. Meanwhile, Smith is interviewing for head coaching vacancies with the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers. If he remains in Pittsburgh, resolving the quarterback situation will be a top priority for the 2025 season.