ATLANTA — Just 35 minutes from where he grew up in Kennesaw, Georgia, and 45 minutes from where he played his high school football at Harrison High School, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields got his first start with the team and his first win as a member of the Steelers.

He learned during warmups that he would be their starting quarterback for certain. Before that, there were plenty of questions for Fields, but he was ready.

“Russell [Wilson] came in after warming up and he told me that I was up. Like we said kind of all week, he was questionable, just trying to get his calf right and try to get going. But it was really tight before the game,” Fields said.

With his family and former teammates in attendance, it was the perfect setting for Fields to engineer a homecoming victory. Going through a wave of emotions, Fields revealed just how perfect the entire setting and outcome was for him in a start he did not know he would have just hours ago.

“Yeah, firstly, it’s great. I have a bunch of family here, family and friends, old high school teammates. So just the setting, I really couldn’t ask for it a better way. God sure does work in mysterious ways,” Fields said.

The Steelers and Fields got off to a slow start. Fields fumbled one snap and almost fumbled another. He missed Van Jefferson who was wide open. Those were plays that he badly wanted back. He vowed to ensure that those slow starts would never happen again as long as he was the starting quarterback.

“Yeah, we definitely got off to a slow start, especially the first play, then I missed the throw to Van [Jefferson]. But after the first drive, I feel like we settled in a little bit, and especially as the game went along, definitely settled in. I don’t have a reason, but just know that won’t happen again.”

Now, Fields will go back to Pittsburgh and work without knowing if he will start against the Denver Broncos in Week 2. Wilson figures to do everything he can to play in what promises to be an emotional return to Empower Field at Mile High, the first since the Broncos released him this offseason.

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PITTSBURGH — The hottest rumor regarding the Pittsburgh Steelers all offseason was their pursuit of wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. They reportedly agreed on a deal during the 2024 NFL Draft, but nothing materialized. Months later, the Steelers continued trying. But after months of effort, the hunt for Aiyuk officially ended when he signed a four-year, $120 million contract to remain with the San Francisco 49ers.

But according to NFL insider Jay Glazer, the Steelers were moments away from acquiring the receiver in a trade. With the 49ers and Aiyuk in a contract stalemate, the team reportedly decided to trade their star pass-catcher to Pittsburgh. Speaking on Fox Sports: NFL, Glazer gave his inside scoop.

“The day it (the contract extension) got done, the 49ers were trading him to the Pittsburgh Steelers,” he said. “And then all of a sudden Brandon Aiyuk happened to show up early to the facility that day.”

According to Glazer, Aiyuk arrived at the team’s facilities to speak to his head coach Kyle Shanahan. After speaking with him, Shanahan tried to reach the team’s front office, who were in the middle of finalizing a deal that would send Aiyuk to the Steelers. The 49ers reportedly put the trade talks on hold once more and gave their receiver a final ultimatum.

“We’re either trading you to Pittsburgh today, or you can take the deal that’s on the table. It’s up to you but you have ’til the end of practice,” they told Aiyuk.

Ultimately, Aiyuk committed to San Francisco and remaining with the 49ers. He signed a huge deal, earning himself an annual salary of $30 million.

Aiyuk has steadily improved since arriving in the NFL and posted his best statistical season in 2023. He hauled in 75 receptions for an astounding 1,342 receiving yards and seven touchdowns while becoming QB Brock Purdy’s favorite target. The year prior he had 78 receptions for 1,015 yards and eight touchdowns. Over four seasons and 62 games played, he’s amassed 269 receptions for 3,931 yards

Aiyuk was originally drafted by the San Francisco 49ers 25th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. Coming out of Arizona State University, the book on him was straightforward: get him the ball and he would make something happen. At 26 years old, he’s made good on the scouting report, establishing himself as a top playmaking receiver in the league.

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