PITTSBURGH — In his final news conference of the season, Mike Tomlin was noncommittal about who will be playing quarterback for the Steelers next season.

All three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, including starter Russell Wilson, are not under contract for the 2025 season. Tomlin did not endorse Wilson nor backup Justin Fields for the job and he said he's going to discuss the position with general manager Omar Khan later this week.

"We got some major discussions there," Tomlin said. "It was a really good experience with the three quarterbacks who were on our roster this year, individually and collectively. We are certainly open to considering those guys, but there's a lot of work ahead of us.

"The major work starts first and foremost in understanding what our options are, what the field looks like in terms of free agency, what the draft pool looks like and then beginning the process in terms of decision making based on known variables."

Since Ben Roethlisberger retired following the 2021 season, the Steelers have entered each season with a different starting quarterback. It was Mitch Trubisky in 2022, Kenny Pickett in 2023 and Wilson in 2024. Wilson's two predecessors did not return after they were named the starter.

The fact the Steelers did not win a playoff game with any of those players is the reason Tomlin is undecided on his starter entering the offseason.

"It's also been three out of the past four years we've taken a quick exit from the tournament," Tomlin said. "We're having all of those discussions and acknowledging those similarities exist. Obviously, that will be a component in our decision making."

Wilson said Monday he wanted to return, but the Steelers are going to have to weigh how Wilson and the offense finished the season and whether a 36-year-old can play the position the way the game is trending toward mobile quarterbacks.

Of the eight teams remaining in the playoffs, six have mobile quarterbacks, with the two exceptions being Matthew Stafford of the Rams and Jared Goff of the Lions. The other six are elite running quarterbacks and/or have an ability to escape the pocket to extend plays in the passing game.

Quarterback mobility has long been a preference for Tomlin at the position, and that has not changed.

"Very," Tomlin said when asked how important mobility was for him at quarterback. "But that's not a new discussion. I've expressed that in this setting and settings like this for years. The X-factor that quarterback mobility is in our game, how it's trending and has been trending is not a new discussion."

If the Steelers cannot come to terms on a contract with Wilson or if Wilson decides to sign elsewhere in free agency, Tomlin said he believes Fields proved this season he can be a full-time starter for the Steelers.

"I thought the way he managed his professional circumstance was really impressive," Tomlin said. "I thought he brought an urgency to his day-to-day work regardless of his role. I thought he got continually better in our system of ball throughout the process. I thought the way he conducted himself makes that a legitimate thought or idea at this juncture."

Other issues addressed by Tomlin

On the possibility of changes on his coaching staff: "I think change in coaching staffs are a component of our business. I certainly don't think all of our coaches are under contract, and so change is a component of it, and I acknowledge it. But we're at the very early stages of making those type of decisions and discussions."

On his Monday meeting with team president Art Rooney II: "I think we share the same sentiment, to be quite honest with you. We're really disappointed that we're not working this week and we have a real commitment to making sure that we're not in that same space 12 months from now. That's cool in spirit, but what's transpiring in a tangible way in terms of how we construct these upcoming days and weeks and months is going to be critical to making sure there's teeth to that."

Tomlin said he has not had discussions with Khan about a potential extension for receiver George Pickens, but he admitted Pickens still has a ways to go in his development as a professional. "Certainly there's a lot of room for growth there. I think he covered some ground in 2024, but there's certainly a heck of a lot more ground to be covered, and we'll see where it leads us."

On whether he'll consider a new approach to dealing with Pickens: "I think I'm always in consideration of changing my approach to get a desired result, particularly when it gets repetitive."

On his message to teams attempting to acquire him in a trade: "Save your time."

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