No, Justin Fields will not be the Pittsburgh Steelers’ kick-return running back this fall.
The former Chicago Bears quarterback laughed off that notion on Tuesday, ending what was supposed to be a noteworthy development for his new team.
The idea was first floated by Steelers running back Jalen Warren on Cam Heyward’s podcast earlier this spring, when Warren said special teams coordinator Danny Smith had suggested Fields could be used as a kick returner this season.
Soon, it escalated into a bigger story on social media, which Fields said he found very funny.
“No, I think people kind of misinterpreted it,” Fields said. “Coach Danny was just trying to get the message across that you can put anybody on special teams basically. He just used that as an example.”
The Steelers traded Fields in March after he spent his first three years in the league with the Bears. The Bears then used their first overall draft pick on Caleb Williams to replace him. The Steelers also acquired Russell Wilson in a trade this offseason, and Wilson was initially thought to be the starter. But Fields insisted during practice earlier this month that he was “definitely competing” for the starting spot.
Fields threw for a career-high 2,562 yards and 16 touchdown passes last season with Chicago, and also rushed for 1,100 yards in 2022 while adding 657 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
“I’m definitely competing,” Fields said of his position as the starter this month. “Russ knows that too. We’re competing with each other every day. … I’m not going to sit back and do nothing for a year. I’m going to go out there and give it my all every day and pressure Russ to do his best and Russ is pushing me to do my best every day.”
The competition is real, and honestly, there’s no reason not to compete considering all the parties involved. Putting Fields in the running for a kickoff return spot just doesn’t make sense; it’s too risky.
“Well, I don’t know,” Fields said with a smile.[Smith] Maybe he’ll do something. Let’s see what happens.”
