ESPN’s Ryan Clark Speaks Out on Steelers QB Justin Fields

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ESPN’s Ryan Clark argued that the Pittsburgh Steelers should want Justin Fields to start at quarterback this season.

Multiple reports made it clear that the Pittsburgh Steelers view Russell Wilson as their starting quarterback instead of Justin Fields. But former Steelers safety and ESPN’s Ryan Clark argued why that shouldn’t be what the team wants.

On the March 20 episode of ESPN’s Get Up, Clark explained why it would be advantageous for the Steelers to start Fields.

“If I’m the Pittsburgh Steelers, if I’m Omar Khan, I want Justin Fields to win the job. That’s exactly what I want,” Clark said. “Because that gives me an opportunity to have a quarterback of the future. Not a bridge guy.

“Not a guy on the back end of his career, but a young talented quarterback that needs the right pieces around him, who showed signs of being very good late last year.”

To Clark’s point, Fields completed 61.1% of his passes for an average of 6.5 yards per attempt in the final seven games of 2023. He also rushed for 5.5 yards per carry with 8 total touchdowns and 5 turnovers.

Fields led the Chicago Bears to a 4-3 record during that seven-game stretch. He had a 6-26 record as an NFL starting quarterback prior to that.

He is also 10 years younger than Wilson.

Like Fields, Clark began his NFL career elsewhere before joining the Steelers. But Clark played eight of his 13 seasons in the league in Pittsburgh (2006-13). Clark was a starter on the 2008-09 Super Bowl champion Steelers and made the Pro Bowl in 2011.

Dave Holcomb is a sports reporter covering the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions for Heavy.com. Originally from Pittsburgh, Holcomb has covered college and professional sports for outlets including Fansided, Rotowire and Yardbarker. More about Dave Holcomb