Pittsburg, PA

Steelers’ Justin Fields makes big reveal on his future in Pittsburgh

Published

1 year ago

January 5, 2025

When the Pittsburgh Steelers entered the 2024 offseason, many changes were made to the quarterback room. Former Steelers quarterbacks Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph all went to different teams. It was a much needed reset for the organization as the quarterback situation wasn’t working out after future Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 campaign. The team brought in veteran Russell Wilson and former first-round pick Justin Fields during the 2024 offseason.

Although Fields started the season with a 4-2 record, Wilson took over the starting job in Week 7. Both the Steelers’ franchise and quarterbacks will have a decision to make during the offseason about their potential futures in Pittsburgh.

Wilson has mainly been linked to reports saying he was looking for a deal to stay in Pittsburgh. Although he’s had his good moments, Wilson has also made costly mistakes in-game that have hurt the team. His age is also a concern for the Steelers, as he’s a quarterback who doesn’t have many years left in him, and it’s quite clear he can’t run like he used to.

Fields’ future in Pittsburgh is more up in the air. There haven’t been as many reports on if he is looking for a new deal or not. Roethlisberger expressed on the “Footbahlin With Ben Roethlisberger” podcast that he’d like to see Fields stay in Pittsburgh for another year. Kevin Gorman of TribLive spoke with Fields directly about his future in Pittsburgh, and he revealed his thoughts moving forward in a Saturday morning article.

“I want to be here,” Fields told Gorman. “I’m kind of tired of learning a new offense every year. This will be my third in four years. Of course I’d love to be back, but that’s all up to God at the end of the day. I’ll be where God wants me to be.”

Fields didn’t have the best experience with the Chicago Bears. He was quickly moved into a starting quarterback role for a fan base that was hungry to win. The team didn’t have the right weapons for him and coaches didn’t help Fields out. It was a lot of pressure for Fields trying to be the new franchise quarterback in Chicago when fans didn’t fully support him, either. Fields needed a fresh start, and Pittsburgh gave that to him.

During his six-game stretch, Fields threw for 1,106 yards, and throughout the season, even after getting moved to back up Wilson, he has still used his legs and rushed for 289 yards. His legs are a weapon, and Fields could easily get out of the pocket to either make a throw or run it himself. Fans were concerned about his throwing ability, but Fields has had a true opportunity to finally learn under a veteran quarterback for most of the season.

Fields and Wilson have been seen talking and smiling on the sideline together, showing they have a good relationship. It’s never easy to start a season well and then be replaced as the starting quarterback, but Fields said that he has taken this time to learn and grow as a quarterback.

“Russ has been great,” Fields said. “Of course, his job is not to mentor me. But anytime I have a question for him, anytime I ask a question he gives me his thoughts on that. I’m always picking his brain on different things.”

Wilson has also spoken highly of Fields throughout the season. He’s known to be a supportive and positive teammate, which will help any player. It’s a great situation to have when a team has two capable, starting quarterbacks who want to be in Pittsburgh.

It’d be ideal if the Steelers chose to keep both players and see what happens next season, but head coach Mike Tomlin came into this season wanting Wilson as the starter, so he may be swayed to keep Wilson over Fields if it came to that.

Fields would be the ideal quarterback moving forward

Wilson has been great for the Steelers and has shown major improvement for an offense that has been stale the past few seasons, but in terms of the future, the Steelers need to really consider going with Fields. Once Roethlisberger retired, a whole new era began in Pittsburgh. It’s always rough for an organization to lose its franchise quarterback and start over, but it needs to be figured out early on so the team isn’t set back for seasons to come.

Fields is still 25-years-old and has a lot to prove in this league. His running is his strongest ability, but he said in the article that he knows his arm strength is just as important. The Steelers started 4-2 with Fields, so who knows what would’ve happened if he started the rest of the season? It’s a big decision for the Steelers’ organization, but knowing Fields wants to be back in Pittsburgh, even after watching from the sidelines for most of the season, is a great sign.

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Pittsburg, PA

Pittsburgh and Vegas take the ice for non-conference matchup

Published

6 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Pittsburgh and Vegas take the ice for non-conference matchup

Vegas Golden Knights (28-17-14, in the Pacific Division) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (30-15-13, in the Metropolitan Division)

Pittsburgh; Sunday, 1 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Golden Knights -149, Penguins +125; over/under is 6.5

BOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Penguins and the Vegas Golden Knights square off in a non-conference matchup.

Pittsburgh has a 14-8-7 record at home and a 30-15-13 record overall. The Penguins have scored 197 total goals (3.4 per game) to rank 10th in NHL play.

Vegas is 28-17-14 overall and 14-9-7 in road games. The Golden Knights are 27-6-8 in games they score at least three goals.

Sunday’s game is the first meeting between these teams this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Anthony Mantha has 21 goals and 23 assists for the Penguins. Benjamin Kindel has six goals and one assist over the last 10 games.

Mark Stone has 21 goals and 38 assists for the Golden Knights. Pavel Dorofeyev has seven goals and three assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Penguins: 7-1-2, averaging 4.2 goals, 7.1 assists, 3.3 penalties and 6.9 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game.

Golden Knights: 4-4-2, averaging 3.5 goals, 5.8 assists, 2.6 penalties and 5.8 penalty minutes while giving up 3.3 goals per game.

INJURIES: Penguins: None listed.

Golden Knights: None listed.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Pittsburg, PA

Oneil Cruz Powers Pirates Past Astros

Published

18 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

PITTSBURGH — Oneil Cruz needs to have a great season for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2026 and his strong Spring Training continued in their most recent victory.

Cruz hit a three-run home run off of Houston Astros right-handed pitcher Jayden Murray in the top of the fifth inning, playing a big role in the 5-2 victory at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Fla.

He waited on a changeup on the second pitch, 85.1 mph over the middle of the plate and sent it 106.4 mph off the bat and 368 feet, scoring both left fielder Billy Cook and third baseman Alika Williams with two outs.

That marks the first home run for Cruz in the Grapefruit League, who has had a great Spring Training so far, slashing .538/.600/.846 for an OPS of 1.446 in five games, with seven hits in 13 at-bats.

Pittsburgh got the win after the top of the sixth inning, after a rain delay ended the game.

Pirates Rookie Pitchers Have Up-And-Down Showing vs. Astros

Right-handed pitcher Braxton Ashcraft made his second start for the Pirates in the Grapefruit League and dominated vs. the Astros.

Sep 15, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Braxton Ashcraft (67) delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Ashcraft threw three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and a walk, while posting two strikeouts for Pittsburgh.

Former Pirates pitcher, right-handed starter Mike Burrows, countered Ashcraft for the Astros. He threw three scoreless innings himself, allowed one hit and a walk and posted four strikeouts.

The Pirates traded Burrows to the Houston Astros in the three-team trade with the Tampa Bay Rays on Dec. 19, that landed them second baseman Brandon Lowe, outfielder Jake Mangum and left-handed relief pitcher Mason Montgomery.

Right-handed pitcher Bubba Chandler made his second appearance for the Pirates in the Grapefruit League and threw two innings.

Chandler immediately loaded the bases, walking both third baseman Carlos Correa and first baseman Christian Walker, then giving up a single to center fielder Cam Smith.

He came back and struckout right fielder Taylor Trammell and got left fielder Zach Dezenzo to pop out, but gave up a single to second baseman Brice Matthews and a run to the Astros, before ending the inning with a strikeout.

Chandler also gave up a solo home run to Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes, on a slider down in the zone.

He finished his outing with three hits, three walks and two earned runs allowed over 1.1 innings pitched, before left-handed pitcher Derek Diamond got the last two outs of the inning.

Chandler struggled in his first Spring Training start vs. the New York Yankees at LECOM Park in Bradenton on Feb. 23, where he allowed four earned runs over 1.2 innings of work.

Feb 23, 2026; Bradenton, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bubba Chandler (36) throws a pitch during the second inning against the New York Yankees at LECOM Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The Pirates will need better showings from Chandler, who should serve as a key piece of their starting rotation in 2026.

Other Important Notes from Pirates Victory

The Pirates added two runs in the top of the sixth inning, as Cook hit a single that scored second baseman Nick Yorke and then Williams singled, scoring Cook to make it a 5-2 ball game.

Cook had just one hit in eight at-bats coming into this game and scored twice in the victory, as he walked before the Cruz home run.

Designated hitter Marcell Ozuna led the Pirates with two hits, a good sign for them, as they’ll rely on him greatly for his power and hitting in 2026.

The Pirates are now 7-2 in the Grapefruit League and tied with the Yankees for the top of the standings.

Make sure to visit Pirates OnSI for the latest news, updates, interviews and insight on the Pittsburgh Pirates!

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