Based on his status and style of play, Wilson appears to be the leading candidate at the moment. If the Steelers want to bring Wilson back next offseason – and it looks like they will – they will have to negotiate a new contract, and the franchise tag is also an option for any free agent whose team tries to acquire him to regain -Sign it.

Fields also opened the season 4-2 as a starter after Wilson suffered a calf injury before the season, which helped boost his value in free agency in 2025. Despite his impressive start, he was replaced by Wilson in a decision led by head coach Mike Tomlin.

And while many in the NFL were skeptical – very skeptical – the move to Wilson more than paid off.

After Wilson threw for 414 yards in a win over the Bengals in Week 13, his first 400-yard day since the 2019 season, Tomlin welcomed him to the AFC North and praised his play.

“It’s his first time doing AFC North football and I think he’s adjusted well to it,” Tomlin told reporters last week. “With his performance today, he has written himself directly into the history of this series. We are grateful for him.”

As for Wilson, he has done nothing but praise the man who gave him the chance to play in the starting lineup again and explained how well they fit together.

“We both love the ball,” Wilson said of Tomlin. “We both love the process of playing ball, we both love the people at the same time. I think that’s the best part that I enjoy the most. I think he’s the best in the world.”

It’s been something of an odyssey for the Steelers at QB since Ben Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 season.

They selected Kenny Pickett in the first round of the 2021 draft to replace him, but it was an up-and-down process that ended when Mason Rudolph took over as QB1 at the end of last season and began Pittsburgh’s wild-card loss to the Bills .

This past offseason, Pittsburgh traded Pickett to the Eagles, traded for Fields and signed Wilson with high hopes for the future.

Thanks to Wilson’s play, those hopes came true.