Ben Roethlisberger's Reflections on the Steelers' Immediate Impact with Justin Fields
Twenty years ago, Ben Roethlisberger was a rookie quarterback who took the NFL by storm, winning all 12 of his regular season starts as he guided the Pittsburgh Steelers with a dominant defense supporting him. Fast forward to the current NFL season, and Roethlisberger now finds himself in the role of a commentator, reflecting on another emerging quarterback – Justin Fields.
Fields has led the Steelers to their first 2-0 start since 2020, and he has been drawing comparisons to Roethlisberger himself. Impressively completing nearly 70% of his passes in recent games, Fields has shown both poise and precision. The Steelers' victories on the road against Atlanta and Denver have been a testament to his steady performance, with the offense putting up 18 and 13 points, respectively. Despite the modest point totals, it's clear Fields is managing the games effectively.
Special teams have played their part too, with kicker Chris Boswell making six crucial field goals against Atlanta, which were instrumental in securing the win. On the defensive side, the renowned Steelers' defense has continued to play a critical role in their recent successes, reminiscent of the support Roethlisberger had during his rookie year.
No turnovers from Fields in either contest speak volumes about his capability and maturity. Roethlisberger, who has closely followed Fields' progress, had high praise for the young quarterback. "If Russ is healthy, I'm sticking with Justin. I think that he has earned, deserves the right to stay there," Roethlisberger remarked, emphasizing that Fields has been efficient and responsible with the ball.
The trust Roethlisberger places in Fields is evident as he continues, "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 acknowledges the importance of maintaining continuity and rhythm within a team, something he understands all too well from his playing days. "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."
Roethlisberger’s reflections carry weight, especially considering his own journey. He holds the record as the youngest starting quarterback to win the Super Bowl and led the Steelers to set an AFC record with 15 wins in the 2004 season. Though that season ended with a loss to the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, Roethlisberger's impact was undeniable.
Fields' efficiency and game management draw clear parallels to Roethlisberger’s rookie performances. "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 said, capturing the essence of what Fields brings to the team.
Winning remains the ultimate measure of a quarterback’s success, and Roethlisberger was quick to remind Fields of this reality. "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."
He continued to share his philosophy, one that guided his own career: "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." Fields' current 2-0 standing as the Steelers' starting quarterback is undoubtedly the priority, reflecting Roethlisberger’s mindset.
While the future remains unpredictable, the early signs indicate that Justin Fields could follow in the footsteps of Roethlisberger, carving out his own legacy with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Anchored by a solid defense and key performances by special teams, Fields possesses the fundamentals to steer the Steelers through a promising season, guided by wisdom from one of the franchise's all-time greats.