Russell Wilson giving Steelers elite quarterback play for 1st time in years

CINCINNATI — Pat Freiermuth didn’t even let the reporter finish the question.

In the visitors’ locker room at Paycor Stadium not long after his team’s victory Sunday, Freiermuth was asked about Russell Wilson.

“Mannnnnnnnnn,” the Pittsburgh Steelers’ tight end exclaimed in reference to his veteran quarterback.

Moments later, Freiermuth again couldn’t contain his palpable wonderment. A 26-year-old, four-year NFL veteran who, just a few months ago, earned a lucrative contract extension, Freiermuth sounded like am excitable kid who just played a peewee football game.

“That,” Freiermuth said of Wilson’s fourth-quarter, third-down throw to Van Jefferson that gained 43 yards to help ice the game away, “was a rocket!”

Freiermuth isn’t the only one inside the Steelers locker room who’s giddy with excitement about Wilson.

For the first time since before Ben Roethlisberger’s elbow surgery seemingly ended his prime by accelerating his aging process more than five years ago, the Steelers are getting a sustained stretch of high-level quarterback play. It was 2018 the last time the franchise got that kind of point production and a QB stat line like Wilson put up in Sunday’s win at the Cincinnati Bengals: 29 for 38, 414 yards, three touchdowns.

The Steelers suddenly have an offense that ranks among the top 10 in scoring in the NFL (24.7 points per game in 2024), and Wilson is the biggest reason. The Steelers are averaging 28.7 points and 389.7 yards in Wilson’s seven starts. For the season, those would rank fifth and third in the NFL, respectively.

“All of us are clicking at the same time,” left tackle Broderick Jones said. “As long as our offense is clicking, all 11 of us firing off the ball and doing what we do, being on the same page, I don’t really feel like there’s anybody who can stop us.”

The Steelers are 9-3 overall and 5-1 with Wilson as the starter since he healed from his training-camp calf injury and took over for Justin Fields. Wilson’s passer rating (104.3) is fifth in the league. His yards per attempt of 8.7 ranks second behind MVP frontrunner Josh Allen. His yards per completion (13.2) also is second in the NFL.

If his passing yards over six games (1,626) were doubled to extrapolate to the Steelers’ full season thus far, Wilson’s 3,252 yards would be the third most in the league. His 20 touchdown passes (equivalent of 10 in six games) would be tied for sixth most. And his 10 wins would tie him for third most.

Not bad for a guy whose prior team, the Denver Broncos, is paying him almost $40 million this season to not play for them and who turned 36 years old last week.

“I feel like I’m 26. Maybe I’m 30,” Wilson said Sunday.

“I think the best part about it is we’re having fun, and we’re having a blast doing it. And we’ll do whatever it takes to do what we need to do. I think that’s the fun part for me. We have these meetings at the end of the week — just all the guys and spending extra time on all the different things we want to get to and going over the game plan. Understanding it showed up in such a great way today. I’m just excited to be a part of this team.”

Wilson’s accurate passing — particularly on deep throws — and deft decision-making have, of course, helped the Steelers keep up with some of the AFC’s best teams and best opposing offenses. But the gravitas he’s brought as a former Super Bowl champion and likely future Hall of Famer brings an intangible to the Steelers, too.

Wilson and defensive lineman Cameron Heyward, a fellow 36-year-old, have provided consistent, high-level play and an even-keeled style of leadership to their respective sides of the ball.

“Forget their play — although it’s appreciated — it’s the things that tee up their performance,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “It’s their day to day. It’s how they go about their business. It’s their level of professionalism. It’s the amount of buy-in they have regarding team. I’m hoping that the young guys see it and pay as much attention to it as (they do) the playmaking.”