It was barely an hour into the NFL’s legal tampering period Monday when the Pittsburgh Steelers, notorious bystanders early in free agency, made a headline-grabbing move.

They signed quarterback Mitch Trubisky to a two-year contract to compete for the starting job vacated by Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement.

Trubisky had a chance to wait and see how the market unfolded — the New York Giants reportedly were interested in signing him — but he didn’t see the point.

“This is definitely where I wanted to be,” Trubisky said Thursday after signing his contract.

Trubisky, who will wear No. 10 with the Steelers, signed a prove-it deal that includes a $5 million signing bonus, is worth $14 million and can increase to $27 million if he reaches all of his incentives. For that to happen, he must first win the starting job in a competition with incumbents Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins.

Coming off a season in which he attempted just eight passes and sat behind Josh Allen in Buffalo, Trubisky believes he landed in the ideal place to resurrect his once promising career.

“Going through free agency with my agent, we went through all the options to see where would be a great fit for me,” Trubisky said. “When we found out Pittsburgh had interest, I said this is where I wanted to be. … It happened very quickly, we jumped on it, and I’m happy to be here.”

The second overall pick in the 2017 draft by Chicago, Trubisky went 29-21 as a starter, made the Pro Bowl in 2018 and started playoff games that season and again in 2020. Still, his play was inconsistent enough that the Bears declined his fifth-year option, which led him to signing a one-year deal in Buffalo last season as Allen’s backup.

“I’m in a situation where I have to prove myself back on the field, and that’s what I’m looking forward to doing,” Trubisky said. “You’re always betting on yourself in that sense, and I definitely am in this case.”

Although Trubisky made just six token appearances last season while watching Allen guide the Bills to another playoff appearance, he doesn’t consider his year in Buffalo as wasted.

“It was a blessing in disguise,” he said. “I needed it even more than I knew at the time. I learned a lot. The first thing I learned when I got to Buffalo is what a great culture there is. Culture wins, I could tell that in Buffalo, and I could tell it’s a great thing here. I’m excited to contribute to that.”

With the Steelers, Trubisky not only is trying to surpass Rudolph and Haskins on the depth chart, he also is following in the footsteps of the most prolific passer in franchise history. Roethlisberger’s legacy would be challenging for any quarterback succeeding him.

Trubisky welcomes it.

“When Ben did here for 18 seasons on the field and off the field, without a doubt he’s a Hall of Famer,” he said. “You just hope to continue that. For me, that’s coming in here, being myself, playing my game. What No. 7 did here, what Big Ben did, was special. We want to continue that winning legacy that he started.”

Trubisky’s specialty includes his movement in the pocket. In his Pro Bowl season in 2018, he rushed for a career-high 421 yards and three touchdowns, gaining first downs 29 times on his 68 carries.

The Steelers are seeking the type of versatility that Roethlisberger could no longer provide at age 39.

“You’re trying to score on defenses and give them as much trouble as you possibly can whether it’s buying time in the pocket to throw down the field or picking up first downs and scoring touchdowns with your legs,” Trubisky said. “I look forward to using my dual threat abilities in this offense any way I can and leading this offense to score points. Whatever it takes, that’s what I want to do.”

Trubisky already has talked to veterans such as Cameron Heyward and T.J. Watt about the “Steeler Way.” He also has spoken to Diontae Johnson, Najee Harris, Pat Freiermuth and Chase Claypool.

“You come in and be yourself and try to build relationships as you can right away,” he said. “Since I’m new here, you reach out and talk to guys who have been here. They’re looking to be leaders on this team, and I’m looking to be a leader as well.”

Among the other free agents who have joined the Steelers, Trubisky is reuniting with former Bills cornerback Levi Wallace and former Bears offensive lineman James Daniels.

“I think Mitch is a good leader,” Daniels said. “He gets very vocal and is very passionate about winning. In Chicago, he was inviting the offense over to his house on Mondays or Tuesdays. It was about fellowship. When you’re close with your teammates and know them as people, Mitch does a really good job of that.”

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