NFL News: Mike Tomlin’s reason for not choosing Shedeur Sanders as Steelers starting quarterback might have been Russell Wilson

Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers had several opportunities to select Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 Draft but chose not to. Even though the priority is Aaron Rodgers, the young star from Colorado seemed like a very interesting prospect if they were looking for the franchise quarterback of the future.

For several years now, the Steelers have failed in their task of finding Ben Roethlisberger’s successor. That’s why 2025 and 2026 are key years to accomplish that goal. However, Shedeur was not part of their plans.

Pittsburgh addressed the quarterback position as late as the sixth round with Will Howard from Ohio State. In addition, they’ve already accumulated 12 picks for the next draft, where they could make a move for names like Arch Manning or Drew Allar.

Who did the Steelers pick in 2025 Draft?

The Steelers selected Will Howard to address the quarterback position in the 2025 Draft. The rest of their picks were mainly focused on strengthening the defense: Derrick Harmon (DT), Kaleb Johnson (RB), Jack Sawyer (EDGE), Yahya Black (DT), Carson Bruener (LB), and Donte Kent (CB).

Now, in surprising information, a report from Albert Breer suggests that the failed experiment with Russell Wilson during the 2024 season may have held Tomlin back from taking the risk of exploring a future with Shedeur Sanders.

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NFL News: Mike Tomlin reportedly sparked controversy with Steelers after final decision between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields

“I think (Russell Wilson) it’s part of the reason why. Tomlin likes Shedeur Sanders. He likes Shedeur going into the Draft, but, I don’t think Tomlin wanted to press that button again at quarterback after what happened with Russell at the end of the year last season.”