Twenty years ago, a young and unproven Ben Roethlisberger stepped onto the field as a rookie quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, commencing a journey marked by unexpected triumphs and resilience. Roethlisberger, with an extraordinary debut season, won all 12 of his regular season starts, riding the waves with a formidable defense to back him up. The Steelers, under the stewardship of then-head coach Bill Cowher, set an AFC record with 15 wins, although their dream run ended with a defeat to the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. Despite this, Roethlisberger etched his name in NFL history, becoming the youngest starting quarterback to win the Super Bowl.
Fast forward to the present, and the Steelers find themselves rallying behind another emerging talent, Justin Fields. Leading the Steelers to their first 2-0 start since 2020, Fields has shown promise, completing nearly 70% of his passes in recent games. The young quarterback guided the team to road victories against Atlanta and Denver, managing the offense that scored 18 points against Atlanta and 13 points against Denver. Chris Boswell's six-field goal effort in Atlanta was instrumental, but the defense's critical performance in both wins cannot be overstated. Notably, Fields maintained a clean slate by committing no turnovers in either contest.
In a recent comparison, the spotlight naturally shifts back to Roethlisberger, who has been vocal about Fields' early success and potential. "If Russ is healthy, I'm sticking with Justin. I think that he has earned, deserves the right to stay there," Roethlisberger commented, reflecting on the dilemma of whether to reinsert an injured but prominent Russell Wilson back into the lineup once he recovers. Wilson, who aggravated a calf injury that had been a concern since the eve of training camp, presents a complex decision for the coaching staff.
Roethlisberger, drawing from his wealth of experience, emphasizes the importance of stability and rhythm in a team's performance. "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," he added, acknowledging Fields' competence and prudence with the football. The former Steelers’ quarterback underscored the importance of momentum, noting, "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."
Indeed, Fields' ability to protect the football and make plays, often out of adverse situations, has not gone unnoticed. "Would you like to see 400 yards and three touchdowns and one rushing touchdown? Of course, you would," Roethlisberger remarked, addressing the high expectations often placed on a quarterback. "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."
From his vantage point, Roethlisberger offers sage advice to Fields, reflecting on the essence of the quarterback role. "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."
The narrative mirrors Roethlisberger's own career ethos; numbers were secondary to 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 reminisced.
The mutual respect and recognition between generations of Steelers quarterbacks illustrate the enduring legacy of the franchise. The experiences and insights of veterans like Roethlisberger allow burgeoning talents like Fields to grow with guided wisdom, potentially setting the stage for another impactful career. While the journey ahead remains uncertain, Justin Fields' beginning resonates with the echoes of Roethlisberger's illustrious start two decades ago, bringing a sense of hope and continuity to Steelers fans and the broader football community.