PITTSBURGH — Russell Wilson faced a tough start in his first game as the Steelers’ starting quarterback, with boos echoing from the Acrisure Stadium crowd after the offense stumbled through three straight three-and-outs early in the game. Fans chanted for Justin Fields, highlighting their frustration with Wilson’s initial performance, characterized by inaccuracy.
However, the narrative shifted dramatically as Wilson led the Steelers to a 37-15 victory over the New York Jets. In a remarkable turnaround, he achieved 264 passing yards and three total touchdowns, setting a franchise record for his debut. After a shaky first quarter, where he completed only 2 of 6 passes for 19 yards, Wilson found his rhythm and completed 14 of 23 passes for 245 yards in the remaining three quarters, elevating his completion rate from 33% to 60%.
Coach Mike Tomlin praised Wilson’s performance, noting how he improved as the game progressed. “He got better as the game went on… I thought he settled in, knocked the rust off,” Tomlin said.
Despite the early jeers, Wilson attributed his resilience to maintaining a neutral mindset, a principle advocated by his late mental conditioning coach, Trevor Moawad. “Stay the course,” Wilson recalled, adding that he believed he could turn things around, comparing his performance to a baseball player who starts 0-for-2 but expects to hit a home run.
That turning point came just before halftime when he threw his first touchdown to George Pickens, igniting the offense. “I felt like, ‘All right, there’s going to be a lot more of these,’” Wilson remarked, attributing his success to the relentless effort of the team.
Wilson continued to excel, scoring two more touchdowns, one on a 1-yard sneak and another on a 4-yard pass to Van Jefferson. He highlighted the collaboration with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who designed effective plays that allowed him to find his groove.
Wilson showcased his ability with deep throws, completing 5 of 6 passes for an average of nearly 25 yards on those attempts, including several successful targets to Pickens, who racked up 111 yards on five receptions.
Before the game, Tomlin confirmed his decision to start Wilson over Fields, who had a successful stint as a starter while Wilson recovered from a calf injury. After the game, former NFL player Brandon Marshall questioned Tomlin about the boldness of this choice, to which Tomlin confidently responded, “That’s why I’m well compensated.”
Wilson dismissed any notions of internal conflict regarding the quarterback decision, emphasizing teamwork and a shared goal of winning. He commended Fields for his performance and noted the importance of mutual respect among the quarterbacks.
“I believe we’re just having fun winning and playing ball,” Wilson said, expressing appreciation for Tomlin’s leadership and transparency. “We just love winning. We just love being a part of the process.”