Russell Wilson entrusted to improve Steelers QB play, return franchise to postseason success

Two statements made by Art Rooney II stood out among the others when the Pittsburgh Steelers president met with reporters in January two weeks after the franchise endured a fifth consecutive playoff loss dating to the 2016 postseason.

The first had to do with that losing skid, the organization’s longest span without a playoff victory since the 1970 merger.

“We’ve had enough of this,” Rooney said. “It’s time to get some wins. It’s time to take these next steps.”

Transactions made in the past six-plus weeks have shown how serious Rooney and the Steelers have been about shedding the status quo. A few that took place in the past week illustrates the organization’s stated sense of urgency.

The first was the signing of 35-year-old quarterback Russell Wilson to a contract that was worth the NFL minimum salary and allowed the Steelers to allocate free-agency dollars to other areas of the roster. The Steelers used some of that available cash to sign Patrick Queen, the best inside linebacker on the market, to a three-year, $41 million contract.

The other moves were the stunning trade Friday that sent quarterback Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles in essentially an exchange of draft picks and the deal Saturday when the Steelers acquired Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears.

The Pickett trade came less than two years after the Heisman Trophy finalist from Pitt was taken by the Steelers in the first round.

Apparently unhappy with the Wilson signing after believing he would be the starter heading into training camp, Pickett was removed from the equation, completing an unforeseen overhaul of the quarterback position.

Which transitions into the other statement Rooney made in January that still rings true.

“I think the biggest thing we need,” Rooney said, “is quality play at the quarterback position.”

It’s something the Steelers didn’t get in two seasons with Pickett, who threw as many interceptions (13) as touchdown passes in 24 starts.

Rooney had no way of knowing at the time that Pickett, Mason Rudolph and Mitch Trubisky all would be off the roster by St. Patrick’s Day. And time will tell if the Steelers have an upgrade at the position with Wilson, Fields and whatever third option is added to round out the quarterback room.

The one certainty is this offense will be controlled by Wilson, one of five active quarterbacks who has led a team to a Super Bowl championship. Matthew Stafford, Joe Flacco and Aaron Rodgers are the others. Wilson and Patrick Mahomes are the only active Super Bowl winners who’ve appeared in multiple title games.

The Steelers, of course, haven’t appeared in the Super Bowl since after the 2010 season, and coach Mike Tomlin has lost his opening playoff game four times since reaching the AFC championship in 2016. When the Steelers last played in the Super Bowl, Wilson was still in college, having completed three years at N.C. State before spending his final year at Wisconsin.

“It’s a true honor, tradition, history,” Wilson said of the organization when he was introduced Friday. “There are six trophies in there. We’ve got to go get a seventh.”

For that to happen, Wilson must recapture the winning formula he enjoyed during his decade with the Seattle Seahawks, which included a Super Bowl title in 2013 and a last-second loss the following season.

Wilson won nearly 66% of his games in 158 starts with the Seahawks, and he was 9-7 in 16 postseason starts.

Such success didn’t follow Wilson to Denver when he was acquired in a mega-trade after the 2021 season. In two years with the Broncos, Wilson won just 11 of his 30 starts, and the Broncos finished 5-12 and 8-9, respectively.

Wilson attributed his dismal 2022 season to a nagging lat injury and said the numbers he posted last season — 26 touchdown passes to eight interceptions — are an indication that he can be the quarterback the Steelers seek to end their postseason drought.

He shares the organization’s sense of urgency and sensed the desire to win from talks with defensive leaders Cameron Heyward, T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick.

“The edge, the desire to win, the work ethic is very evident,” he said. “When you walk in the building, you feel it, sense it, know it. When you work with the guys in the weight room, you see it. This is a town that has won a lot.

“The best part about it is that we can control today. We can’t control tomorrow or what’s ahead, but we can work for it and go for it and dream about it. We’ve got to capitalize on the opportunities. This is just the beginning of it.”

Wilson’s vision is shared by other Steelers newcomers that were introduced Friday. Queen acknowledged that when Wilson agreed to sign with the Steelers, it played a role in his decision to switch sides in the Ravens-Steelers rivalry.

Queen’s change of allegiance also had to do with another observer in the interview room.

“That man standing right over there,” he said, looking at Tomlin. “I think the organization itself is known for winning, great defense and (there are) a bunch of stars over here. I just wanted to come be a part of that and be that extra piece to try to win again.”

Queen fell short of reaching the Super Bowl last season when the Ravens, the AFC’s top seed, lost at home to Mahomes and the Chiefs.

“Once you get a taste, you want that taste again and you want it more,” he said. “Just being so close there hurt so much. Obviously, I couldn’t go back there, and this was the perfect fit. I feel like this was my best shot at being able to win, knowing the history, the coach they’ve got, the type of guys on this team and the additions they’re going to make.”

DeShon Elliott, who signed a two-year deal and likely will start at strong safety, also was lured by the chance to help the Steelers recapture their postseason glory.

“That logo,” Elliott said, looking at the backdrop behind the podium. “It’s championship football. This is the culture. This is real smash-mouth, gritty, cold-weather football. Why else would you not want to play here?”