Russell Wilson says Mike Tomlin was “very open and very clear” with him and Justin Fields throughout the process

By trading Justin Fields for Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers HC Mike Tomlin made one of the most controversial and potentially consequential decisions of the 2024 season. He was heavily criticized in the media for starting Wilson last week, although most have since retracted their criticism have.

But Wilson always insists that Tomlin was open and honest with himself and Fields. And they had similar honesty and communication with each other based on a years-long relationship. It's safe to assume that this is one of the main reasons why the locker room has handled the transition so well.

“I think the biggest thing is Coach [Mike Tomlin] “First of all, the dialogue that we had with Justin and I was very open and very clear,” Russell Wilson said on The Rich Eisen Show last week. “And a big part of that is doing our best every day.”

The Steelers signed Russell Wilson early this offseason, replacing Kenny Pickett. After Pickett convinced the Steelers to trade him, they acquired Justin Fields. While Tomlin was nominally in contention, there was no open tryout for the starting job.

Wilson spent most of training camp limited due to a calf injury, barely played in the preseason and still “won” the starting job. The assumption is that Justin Fields knew what was going on all along – and he didn't do anything special to get the job anyway.

But here too, one reason why everything went so smoothly is the good communication and good relationships. Wilson and Fields had known each other for years and had a close bond off the field. He talked about how he “admired Justin from afar” and how they communicated while Fields was still in college.

“Because I play quarterback in the National Football League and also am a young black quarterback, I know what that looks and feels like, but also the ups and downs and the great moments,” Wilson said of one of the pillars of his relationship with Felder . “Over the years, Justin and I have always been close. I know his family and everything else well.”

The shared respect for process allowed the Steelers internally to handle a situation that could have seemed very chaotic from the outside. The fact that both Wilson and Fields know that Tomlin and the Steelers respect them certainly plays a role in this. And the respect they have for each other was also crucial.

“The dialogue between Justin and I was always great, and also between Coach [Tomlin] and so do we,” Wilson said. Unfortunately for Fields, it doesn't look like he'll suit up tonight as he picks up an injury. The Steelers reportedly still want to use him on offense, but that will have to wait for now.