Twenty years ago, Ben Roethlisberger burst onto the scene as a rookie quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, winning all 12 of his regular season starts. Backed by a formidable defense, Roethlisberger demonstrated poise and leadership beyond his years. Today, Justin Fields is drawing comparisons to Big Ben, as he is leading the Steelers to their first 2-0 start since 2020.
Fields' Early Success
Fields has been efficient and effective, completing nearly 70% of his passes in recent games. This impressive accuracy has helped the Steelers secure crucial road victories against Atlanta and Denver, where the offense managed 18 and 13 points, respectively. Chris Boswell's reliability in Atlanta, where he made six field goals, played a significant role in those victories.
The Steelers' defense has been instrumental in these early wins, mirroring the dominant defense that supported Roethlisberger during his rookie year. Perhaps most notably, Fields has yet to commit a turnover this season, a crucial factor in the Steelers' success thus far.
Roethlisberger Weighs In
Roethlisberger has been vocal in his support of Fields. "If Russ is healthy, I'm sticking with Justin. I think that he has earned, deserves the right to stay there," he said. Roethlisberger appreciates Fields' efficiency and ball security, adding, "He's been efficient. He's been good with the ball. So I think you've got to stay with him, I really do, and see what happens."
Consistency and rhythm are essential in football, according to Roethlisberger. "Once you get into a rhythm and you get good things going, you don't want to mess that up. Let's not mess up the rhythm of the team and what's going on, and I think they're building," he stated. This wisdom comes from Roethlisberger's own experience, as he knows the importance of maintaining momentum in a season.
Leadership and Winning Mentality
Fields' leadership qualities are already evident, and Roethlisberger emphasizes the importance of winning above all else. "Would you like to see 400 yards and three touchdowns and one rushing touchdown? Of course, you would. But you know what else you're going to be happy with? You'll be happy with a guy right now that wasn't even really supposed to probably start this year, going 2-0, taking care of the football, making plays, sometimes out of nothing when guys are getting in," he remarked.
Roethlisberger offered advice to Fields about staying focused on what truly matters. "I would tell him, the only stat that matters is a W and the turnovers. You're winning the turnover battle, and you're winning. Don't worry about what people are saying in terms of yards, in terms of touchdowns, in terms of all that. You're winning. At the end of the day, as a quarterback, that's what you want."
Reflecting on his own career, Roethlisberger noted, "I didn't always put up big numbers, but I prided myself in getting wins, and that's what you're supposed to do. As a quarterback, you're supposed to win football games by any means necessary."
Historical Parallels
Looking back, Roethlisberger's rookie year was marked by incredible achievements. Under head coach Bill Cowher, the Steelers set an AFC record with 15 wins in the 2004 season before succumbing to the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. Despite the season's end, Roethlisberger went on to become the youngest starting quarterback to win the Super Bowl, solidifying his legacy.
The comparisons between Roethlisberger and Fields are becoming more valid as Fields continues to impress. With Russell Wilson's calf injury aggravated two weeks ago, which began during the eve of training camp, the stability Fields provides is invaluable for the Steelers.
This season, the spotlight is on Justin Fields, and he is proving himself under the watchful eye of a city that knows what a great quarterback looks like. If he continues to build on this early momentum, he might just carve his own legacy in Pittsburgh, reminiscent of the early days of Ben Roethlisberger. For now, the Steelers are enjoying their 2-0 start, with hopes of more victories on the horizon.