A Return to Respect:

Mitch Trubisky’s Resurgence

By: Michael A. Chase Jr.

09/10/2022

The Pittsburgh Steelers came into this year’s preseason trying to determine who would be their starting quarterback. They had three options: free agent signing Mitchell Trubisky, first round pick Kenny Pickett, and career backup Mason Rudolph. As it turned out Trubisky outlasted the competition and won the starting QB position. Despite many detractors and doubters, Mitchell Trubisky has a chance to not only have success in Pittsburgh, but to turn his career around. Let’s discuss the reasons why Mitchell Trubisky has a chance to revive his career as a starting QB in Pittsburgh this season.

Head Coach Mike Tomlin announced this week that Mitchell Trubisky will officially be the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers – while also being named a team captain. This announcement was predicted by many, as Trubisky has been described as the stopgap option until first round pick Kenny Pickett is ready to take the reins. However, based on the way Trubisky played this preseason and how he and the Steelers perform during the season, he may be able to hold off this transition. Trubisky played quite well in the preseason, completing 70.6% of his passes for 283 yards and 2 passing touchdowns, rushing for 14 yards on 2 attempts as well. He displayed some solid accuracy, good mobility, and a growing grasp of the offense.

Trubisky signed a 2-year $14.285 million dollar deal this offseason to join Pittsburgh, making the Steelers his 3rd team in three years after being drafted 2nd overall by the Bears in 2017 and spending a year as the backup in Buffalo last season. This would make you think Trubisky has had a disappointing career and has failed to live up to his draft stock. While the latter may be true, his numbers and record show his career has been far from poor. Trubisky has a career winning record as an NFL QB at 29-21, which is no easy feat. He did this while leading his first team, the Bears, to two playoff appearances in 2018 and 2020. He has a career 64-38 touchdown to interception ratio which is solid, while completing 64.1% of his passes. Plus, in two postseason starts he has completed 62.5% of his passes while throwing for 502 yards and 2 touchdowns. All these numbers together tell you he has played an effective quarterback at the highest level the sport has to offer.

Still, thanks to the lofty expectations for him based on draft status and a team that was seen as a Super Bowl contender by some, his performance was deemed not good enough in Chicago. That led them to giving the job to Nick Foles. That also ended up not working out, and now the Bears are hoping recently drafted Justin Fields will be their answer at the position.

Now after a year as a backup in Buffalo, Trubisky comes to Pittsburgh with a great chance to revive his career and show his detractors that he can still be an above average starting QB in the NFL. Pittsburgh was a suitable place for him to land – he is with a stable organization, accomplished head coach and surrounded by playmakers across the board. This contrasts with his time in Chicago where the organization gave up on him, and he had a lack of consistent weapons outside of Allen Robinson around him. Now in Pittsburgh he gets to play under one of the best coaches in the NFL in Mike Tomlin, while having a running game led by 2nd year standout running back Najee Harris, as well as a plethora of pass-catching weapons from Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, to the newly drafted George Pickens. With a stable situation, better offensive skill players, and a legit opportunity, Trubisky has all the things in place to succeed. Now if he can play turnover-free football, spread the ball to his array of weapons, and build back his confidence, Trubisky career could be revived.

Many have already stamped him as a bust which based on his numbers, seems a bit harsh. But Trubisky still is young enough to turn his career around and prove a lot of pundits wrong. He may not end up being the long-term answer in Pittsburgh with Pickett waiting in the wings, but he has an opportunity to show other NFL teams still in need of quarterback help that he can be that answer. With his physical tools, renewed confidence, and a quality season at the helm in Pittsburgh Mitchel Trubisky’s career could be far from set in stone.