Justin Fields has taken an unexpected but exciting path to becoming the Steelers’ latest sensation. A Georgia native who rose to stardom at Ohio State, Fields is now lighting up the NFL with Pittsburgh. It wasn’t always smooth sailing, though. After a bumpy ride in Chicago, where inconsistency plagued him, Fields has found his groove with the Steelers, guiding them to a surprising 3-0 start.
Fans expected Pittsburgh to win with their tough defense, but Fields is showing he’s more than capable of leading the charge on offense. His blend of athleticism, accuracy, and quick decision-making is on full display, and the results are impressive. Fields look more comfortable, confident, and in control with each game. It’s still early, but Steelers fans can’t help but feel like they’ve found their next great quarterback, one who might finally fill the shoes left by Ben Roethlisberger.
Justin Fields’ Georgia Roots And Ohio Rise
Fields first gained national attention as a dual-threat quarterback from Kennesaw, Georgia. After transferring to Ohio State, he showed why he was such a highly touted recruit. Across two seasons, despite one being cut short by COVID-19, Fields threw for 63 touchdowns against just nine interceptions, averaging an impressive 9.2 yards per attempt. That production set the stage for an NFL career, but his transition to the pros wasn’t seamless—until now.
A Rocky Start In Chicago
Justin Fields’ time with the Bears didn’t go as planned. Despite flashing his running ability and making some big throws, he struggled with consistency. Fields often held the ball too long, took unnecessary sacks, and couldn’t fully process defenses fast enough. It was a rough stretch where he never quite looked comfortable under center. In Chicago, the focus was on Fields’ potential, but he could barely string together multiple high-caliber games. That inconsistency defined his time with the Bears.
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Justin Fields Find A Home In Pittsburgh
Now, with the Steelers, Fields looks like a quarterback reborn. The trust in his abilities is starting to return, and the results speak for themselves. Fields has completed 73.3% of his passes through three games, going 55 for 75 for 518 yards. He’s averaging 6.9 yards per attempt with two passing touchdowns and just one interception—a tipped pass in Week 3. Fields also contributes on the ground, running for 90 yards on 24 carries with one rushing touchdown.
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Against the Chargers in Week 3, Fields was particularly sharp, completing 78.1% of his passes (25 of 32) for 248 yards with a touchdown and an interception. It marked just the 10th time in his career that he’s thrown over 30 passes in a game, and it was the second-most efficient outing of those high-volume games.
Confidence And Processing Growth
Fields’ development isn’t just about stats—it’s about how he’s playing the game. In Week 3, several moments he illustrated his growth as a quarterback. For example, in one play against the Chargers, Fields was given a full-field read. Starting with a two-man concept to his right, he didn’t see anything open. In his Bears days, this might have been where he scrambled or missed an opportunity. But this time, he stayed calm, scanned to his left, and found George Pickens down the sideline for a timely, accurate throw.
That’s a situation where, in the past, Fields would have either run the ball himself or thrown late. This time, his eyes stayed downfield, and he made the right decision. It’s a clear sign of development.
Understanding The Mental Game
Another area where Fields is improving is in the mental aspect of the game. Against the Chargers, he faced a single-high safety look, with Pickens running an in-breaking route in front of the deep middle safety.
Fields might have stared down his first read in Chicago, which works in college but not in the NFL. This time, Fields manipulated the defense by looking down the middle of the field at the start of the play. Once Pickens got behind the sinking underneath safety, Fields shifted his gaze, aligned his body, and fired a perfect strike to the receiver. That’s textbook quarterback play—keeping the defense guessing and delivering a fastball on target.
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Quick Decision-Making
Fields’ processing speed is also improving, as shown in another play against the Chargers. Facing a sneaky coverage that often leads to interceptions, Fields quickly reacted when he saw Calvin Austin break open on an in-breaking route. The throw was quick, decisive, and perfectly placed, beating the safety to the spot. Austin’s speed did the rest, taking the ball for a touchdown that effectively sealed the game for the Steelers.
This is where Fields’ growth is most evident. In Chicago, he might have hesitated or missed that throw entirely. Now, he’s seeing those opportunities and taking advantage of them immediately.
Playing “Point Guard”
Fields is learning how to be a “point guard” for the Steelers’ offense—distributing the ball effectively and making smart, quick decisions. It’s not always about highlight-reel throws; sometimes, it’s those 5-7-yard completions that keep the offense moving.
Fields has mastered this, helping the Steelers convert third downs at an impressive 43.1% rate, the sixth-best in the NFL through three games. Even without a strong running game—the Steelers rank 24th in EPA per rush, largely thanks to Fields’ efficient play.
A Bright Future For Pittsburgh
The Steelers have long relied on their defense and Mike Tomlin’s steady leadership to maintain above 500 seasons. With Fields’ steady growth and increasing confidence, Pittsburgh finally has a quarterback they can rely on again.
Coupled with their always-stout defense—currently ranked first in EPA per play allowed—the Steelers’ 3-0 start looks more like the beginning of something special than a fluke.
If Fields continues this upward trajectory, the Steelers could soon find themselves leaning on their quarterback as much as their defense.
