Twenty years ago, a young Ben Roethlisberger embarked on his NFL journey as a rookie quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Fast forward to today, and the Steelers have found themselves in a similar position of optimism with quarterback Justin Fields. This season, Fields is leading the Steelers to an impressive start, marking their first 2-0 opening since 2020. While many things have changed since Roethlisberger's rookie year, some fundamental principles of winning football games remain the same.
Back in 2004, Roethlisberger was thrust into the starting role following an injury to Tommy Maddox in Week 2. Under head coach Bill Cowher, Roethlisberger went on to win all 12 of his regular-season starts, benefiting from a dominant defense and occasionally taking on a reduced offensive role. The Steelers set an AFC record with 15 wins that season, although their campaign ended in disappointment with a loss to the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. Nevertheless, Roethlisberger would later become the youngest starting quarterback to win the Super Bowl, solidifying his place in NFL history.
Fields: The Emerging Leader
Justin Fields' integration into the Steelers' starting lineup has coincided with significant early success. Fields has led Pittsburgh to road victories against Atlanta and Denver, completing nearly 70% of his passes. The Steelers managed 18 points against Atlanta and 13 points against Denver, underscored by the critical role of their defense, reminiscent of Roethlisberger's early years. Kicker Chris Boswell contributed notably, making six field goals in the Atlanta game.
What stands out most, however, is Fields' ball security—he has committed no turnovers in either of the first two games. This efficiency has not gone unnoticed, particularly by Roethlisberger.
Roethlisberger's Endorsement
Roethlisberger, reflecting on Fields' performance, has been highly complimentary. "If Russ is healthy, I'm sticking with Justin. I think that he has earned, deserves the right to stay there," he remarked. Wilson, who aggravated a calf injury two weeks ago which had initially begun during the eve of training camp, may find himself having to wait a bit longer before reclaiming his starting position.
"He's been efficient. He's been good with the ball. So I think you've got to stay with him, I really do, and see what happens," Roethlisberger added, emphasizing the importance of maintaining team rhythm. "Once you get into a rhythm and you get good things going, you don't want to mess that up. Let's not mess up the rhythm of the team and what's going on, and I think they're building," he advised.
The Winning Formula
Roethlisberger understands well the value of a quarterback who, while not necessarily posting eye-popping statistics, wins games. "Would you like to see 400 yards and three touchdowns and one rushing touchdown? Of course you would. But you know what else you're going to be happy with? You'll be happy with a guy right now that wasn't even really supposed to probably start this year, going 2-0, taking care of the football, making plays, sometimes out of nothing when guys are getting in," Roethlisberger explained.
Roethlisberger's advice to Fields hones in on the essentials: "I would tell him, the only stat that matters is a W and the turnovers. You're winning the turnover battle, and you're winning. Don't worry about what people are saying in terms of yards, in terms of touchdowns, in terms of all that. You're winning. At the end of the day, as a quarterback, that's what you want." Indeed, Roethlisberger himself prided his career on securing victories. "I didn't always put up big numbers, but I prided myself in getting wins, and that's what you're supposed to do. As a quarterback, you're supposed to win football games by any means necessary," he declared.
As the season progresses, Fields will undoubtedly face more challenges and tougher opponents. However, the early signs are promising. His ability to manage games efficiently and minimize mistakes mirrors some of the qualities that made Roethlisberger successful early in his career. With a supportive defense and a kicker like Boswell, the ingredients for success are there for Fields, who will look to build on this robust start.
Should Fields continue to win and protect the football, he will be well on his way to cementing his role as the Steelers' starting quarterback, just as Roethlisberger once did two decades ago. Their stories, though separated by years, share a common theme: the emergence of a young quarterback leading the storied Pittsburgh Steelers to victories, one game at a time.