One of the longest-running jokes in the NFL is the quarterback situation with the Cleveland Browns. Over the last 21 seasons, the Browns have had 39 different starting quarterbacks. This is a terrifying stat and a huge reason why the Browns have struggled so much over the last two decades.
But unfortunately, the Pittsburgh Steelers aren't in much better shape recently. Ben Roethlisberger retired at the end of the 2021 season and since then, the quarterback position has been a comedy of errors and missteps. The Steelers have had five starting quarterbacks and none of them have done anything to inspire confidence.
Here's the rundown of starters since Rothlisberger's retirement.
Mitchell Trubisky
Kenny Pickett
Mason Rudolph
Russell Wilson
Justin Fields
2025 will mark the fifth straight season the Steelers will have a different starting quarterback in Week One.
All this could have been avoided. Going back to 2019, when Roethlisberger suffered a season-ending injury in Week Two. Roethlisberger was already nearing the end of his career and if head coach Mike Tomlin and the Steelers front office had been thinking proactively, they would have addressed the future of the position then.
However, arrogance and misplaced loyalty kept the Steelers on the same track and they ended up passing on Jalen Hurts in the 2020 draft in favor of wide receiver Chase Claypool. This isn't hindsight. Every draft pundit called out teams for passing on Hurts and letting him fall to the second round and the Steelers were in a perfect spot to draft the next franchise quarterback.
Now the Steelers look to be heading into 2025 with yet another veteran stopgap and it will be, in all likelihood, a new starting quarterback again in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers quarterback issues could have all been avoided
