After spending his first three seasons with the Chicago Bears, Fields was traded to the Steelers for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick. There is belief in Chicago that Fields turned out to be a bust, considering his first-round pedigree, but the Steelers saw something they liked in Fields. Kirkland, on the What’s Really Good Podcast on Friday, talked about what the Fields trade and the move for Bettis have in common and what it could mean for Fields’ future.

“I think you bring in Justin Fields, it renews his career. Think about Jerome Bettis. Everybody was, before Jerome Bettis got to [the Steelers], everybody said Jerome Bettis was a bust at the Rams. They said that he was a bust. Now, I played against Jerome Bettis; I knew better. I’m like, I couldn’t believe that we got him for a fourth-round pick. Jerome Bettis. He comes to Pittsburgh and it’s the offense that he needs, it works out for him, he ends up being this incredible player. But people don’t realize his first couple years, the Rams, who were a bad organization, thought he was a bust. The head coach thought that Jerome Bettis could not get it done. We, at the Pittsburgh Steelers, we scooped him up and he ends up running for all these yards, he ends up getting a Super Bowl, being one of the most historic players in Pittsburgh. I’m not saying that that can happen to Justin Fields, but boy, the stories are similar.”

Bettis certainly made everyone eat their words, rushing for 13,662 yards in his NFL career, tallying 91 touchdowns, and finishing his career with a Super Bowl XL victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Despite rushing for over 3,000 yards from 1993 to 1995 with the then-St Louis Rams, he was labeled a draft miss and shipped off to Pittsburgh. What followed were six consecutive seasons where Bettis topped the 1,000-yard rushing mark.

Fields may not be coming to the Steelers with the same fanfare as when he was selected 11th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, but he knows Pittsburgh is an ideal place for him. Not only does it allow him time to learn from a Super Bowl-winning quarterback in Wilson, but if he proves that Chicago was simply an unfortunate beginning, he could have a future in Pittsburgh. With the Bears, Fields was expected to shoulder the franchise and lead them back to championships, but with the Steelers, he will be a part of a talented cast.

Steelers Are A Few Pieces Away
Prior to Omar Khan becoming the general manager of the Steelers, the idea of the franchise being active throughout free agency and making splash moves to build the roster would have been considered wildly unorthodox. After Khan, Mike Tomlin, and Andy Weidl set out to make the Steelers bigger and stronger, the goal is to continue that progress to field a 2024 roster able to compete with any team in the NFL.

Signing Patrick Queen and Wilson, trading for Fields, and trading away Diontae Johnson and Kenny Pickett are all moves that show the Steelers are not content with just being in the middle of the pack every year. While Tomlin may not have experienced a losing team during his time as head coach of the Steelers, the bar has been raised. In order for the Steelers to take that next step and become a consistent contender, they will need to continue adding vital pieces to their roster.

Whether it is in the 2024 NFL Draft or another big move, the Steelers are eager to bring together as much depth and talent as they possibly can. With needs remaining at center and receiver, the Steelers are sure to be active in the draft, and there could be a few more surprising moves on the horizon.

Who should the Steelers draft with their 2024 first-round pick?