The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves at a crossroads as they approach the final stretch of the regular season and gear up for the playoffs. Currently sitting at 10-6 heading into Week 17, the Steelers are limping into the postseason on the back of a troubling three-game losing streak. While this downturn has raised questions about the team’s trajectory, one thing seems clear: the organization has not lost faith in their veteran quarterback, Russell Wilson. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Pittsburgh remains committed to keeping Wilson as their starter for the 2025 season and beyond.
“They’d like to go ahead and keep Russell Wilson and re-sign him to keep him in Pittsburgh,” Schefter shared during an appearance on Get Up Thursday morning. The Steelers’ confidence in Wilson comes amid a sea of speculation regarding their long-term quarterback plans, but Schefter pointed out the lack of appealing alternatives on the market. “Even if they couldn’t re-sign him, what do you want them to do at the quarterback position? Who is going to be out there that’s going to be an upgrade over Russell Wilson right now?”
Indeed, the broader quarterback landscape provides little room for maneuvering, particularly for a team like Pittsburgh that isn’t likely to land a high draft pick or splash into free agency for a game-changing talent. Schefter broke down the options available this offseason, emphasizing the scarcity of upgrades over Wilson.
“There are two logical first-round quarterbacks in the draft,” Schefter said, referring to the projected top prospects in 2025. “They’re not going to get either one of those. The top free-agent quarterbacks are going to be Sam Darnold and Russell Wilson. Is there another quarterback in the trade market that’s suddenly going to become available? Probably not.”
With these limited choices, the Steelers seem poised to double down on Wilson while shifting their focus toward improving other areas of the roster. Schefter highlighted the importance of fortifying the team around their quarterback, rather than pursuing an unlikely upgrade at the position.
“This is where the Steelers are,” Schefter explained. “They’ve got to find a way to build out the roster and improve in key areas, like winning the turnover battle. That’s something they’ve struggled with recently. If they’re not getting turnovers, they’re not going to win. In the past three weeks, they’ve lost to three superior teams because they failed to capitalize on turnovers.”
The turnover battle has become a glaring issue for Pittsburgh, particularly during their current skid. The Steelers’ defense, which has long been a cornerstone of the franchise’s identity, has struggled to make game-changing plays, leaving the offense with little margin for error. Against top-tier opponents, this inability to force turnovers has proven costly, and it underscores the need for a more well-rounded approach heading into 2025.
Schefter’s analysis also touched on the Steelers’ standing within the league. While they have shown flashes of brilliance this season, he was candid in his assessment that they are not yet in the same class as the NFL’s elite teams.
“They’re a good team,” Schefter said. “But they’re not one of the big boys right now. To compete with the top-tier teams, they’ll need to make significant adjustments, particularly in roster depth and overall consistency.”
For the Steelers, the challenge lies not only in securing Wilson’s future but also in addressing broader deficiencies that have plagued them during the latter part of the season. Strengthening their offensive line, adding playmakers on offense, and bolstering their defense will be critical if Pittsburgh hopes to take the next step and become a legitimate contender.
As the postseason looms, the Steelers’ management faces critical decisions about how to approach the offseason. While Russell Wilson’s tenure in Pittsburgh remains a central storyline, the team’s success will ultimately depend on their ability to address deeper issues and rise to the occasion against the league’s top competition. Whether or not Pittsburgh can rediscover its winning formula in time for a playoff run remains to be seen, but their path forward is clear: build around Wilson and focus on creating a roster capable of competing with the NFL’s heavyweights.
Russell Wilson’s future with Steelers gets intriguing admission as a surprise decision approved by Omar Khan has been made
