The Pittsburgh Steelers, one of the most storied franchises in NFL history, find themselves at an intriguing crossroads when it comes to playoff relevancy. On one hand, the path back to contender status seems almost deceptively simple: the Steelers need a franchise quarterback. The only problem? Finding a franchise QB is the hardest thing to do in the NFL.

For a team with a rich history of quarterback play, from Terry Bradshaw to Ben Roethlisberger, the absence of a true leader under center is a significant hurdle. Since Roethlisberger’s retirement after the 2021 season, the Steelers have been searching for the next face of the franchise, but the road has been far from easy. The Steelers have not been in a position to tank for a top pick in the draft, which would normally offer the clearest route to securing a young, franchise-caliber quarterback. Instead, Pittsburgh has remained competitive, largely due to a resilient defense and a high floor provided by the organization’s stability and HC Mike Tomlin’s “Leader of Men” coaching style. This competitive nature has often left them in the middle of the pack, though, picking too low in the draft order to land a generational quarterback prospect.

In a league where quarterback play has become the ultimate determinant of success, the Steelers’ search for stability at the position has proven difficult. The team’s most recent attempt at solving the QB problem in 2024 ended with a thud. The team (rightly in my opinion) made the decision to sit a relatively successful Justin Fields after 6 games in favor of the veteran Russell Wilson, who had finally healed from a calf injury sustained on Day 1 of Training Camp in July. Wilson’s struggles down the stretch, combined with the incomplete evaluation of Fields, has left the Steelers once again in desperate need at the game’s most important position.

The difficulty in attaining a franchise quarterback lies in the convergence of several factors. First, the Steelers must either rely on developing a young quarterback like Fields into a legitimate starter or hope that an unexpected opportunity to acquire a more established signal-caller arises. Giving Fields a new contract might be the simplest and most cost-effective move for 2025, and potentially beyond. The latter option is a gamble, especially in an NFL where many teams are constantly in the market for an elite quarterback.

Moreover, the Steelers’ front office has traditionally been conservative when it comes to making major moves in free agency or trading up for high-profile draft picks. They are more inclined to build through the draft, which makes the task of finding the right quarterback even more challenging. The NFL’s talent pool is vast, but the truly elite quarterbacks are rare, and teams that miss on them often face years of mediocrity before another shot presents itself.

The path to playoff relevancy for the Steelers, then, comes down to one simple but complicated truth: the team must find a franchise quarterback. Whether through development, a trade, or a future draft pick, Pittsburgh’s hopes as a legitimate contender will hinge on finding a dynamic leader under center.

Until that piece falls into place, the Steelers will continue to walk a fine line between contention and frustration.