Analyst Disputes Theory That Steelers Wanted Justin Fields
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Analyst Disputes Theory That Steelers Wanted Justin Fields
Analyst Disputes Theory That Steelers Wanted Justin Fields. Steelers turned over their entire quarterback room for the second offseason in a row and have even brought back Mason Rudolph to now play behind Rodgers. The Jets moved on from quarterback Aaron Rodgers this offseason after a failed two-year experiment in New York. The Steelers went 4-2 during that time but failed to impress on the field. It only took the Steelers one season to realize the mistake they made with Justin Fields under center.
After a failed two-year experiment in New York, the Jets moved on from quarterback Aaron Rodgers this offseason.
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It only took the Pittsburgh Steelers one season to realize the mistake they made with Justin Fields under center. Or did it?
Differing opinions of Fields’ time in Pittsburgh offer varying theories about whether or not the Steelers were interested in bringing him back in 2025.
Fields split time with Russell Wilson in 2024 as the former Chicago Bear and Ohio State Buckeye began the season as Pittsburgh’s starter due to an injury to Wilson.
Fields went 4-2 during that time but failed to impress on the field. Wilson had already been named the starter the week before the regular season began, so when he was healthy, the team was his.
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While Wilson wasn’t much better, including quarterbacking the team to an abysmal five-game losing streak to end the season, including a Wild Card loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Fields is younger and potentially had a higher ceiling at that point.
At least one analyst believes the Steelers were done with Fields, as it would’ve been easy for them to offer him a contract after the season, which they didn’t.
“Everyone’s like, they really wanted Fields,” ESPN’s Peter Schrager said. “If they really wanted Fields, they would’ve paid Fields big money. That was my take on the whole thing. ‘They really wanted Stafford. Well, Stafford wasn’t going…they didn’t really want Fields. If they really wanted Fields, you give him $40 million and you’re there.”
The Steelers have turned over their entire quarterback room for the second offseason in a row and have even brought back Mason Rudolph to now play behind Rodgers.
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Was this another mistake by the team under center? We’ll see.
Related: Two-Time Super Bowl Champion Sends Honest TJ Watt Message to Steelers
Related: Steelers Reportedly Extend Safety DeShon Elliott
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Footage Michael Strahan wants ‘burned’, national anthem backlash, FOX NFL Sunday jeers
Footage Michael Strahan wants ‘burned’, national anthem backlash, FOX NFL Sunday jeers, and more. The former New York Giants star has been involved in his fair share of controversies. Strahan has carved out a successful career in broadcasting, but has had his share of controversial moments. The 53-year-old is well-known for his banter with fellow analysts Terry Bradshaw and Howie Long. He has also stirred the pot on the FOX network with his opinions on the Philadelphia Eagles and the national anthem. He also shared his thoughts on the Eagles’ defense during a special episode for Thanksgiving in New York for the games on FOX Sunday for the Thanksgiving episode of the NFL Sunday game on November 22. He is also known for his tongue-in-cheek comments about selling his real estate in New Yorkers, including when he was invited to the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit party as a 20-something young man. He was also asked to interview models and admitted he was ‘nervous’ about the experience.
Michael Strahan has been a mainstay on FOX NFL Sunday for many years, but the former New York Giants star has been involved in his fair share of controversies
Michael Strahan is a successful FOX NFL analyst (Image: Sean Gardner/Getty Images )
Michael Strahan is a familiar face on FOX NFL Sunday and is well-known for his banter with fellow analysts Terry Bradshaw and Howie Long.
The former defensive end has an impressive football history, including a Super Bowl win with the New York Giants. Strahan, who spent his entire 15-year career with the NFC East team, had his loyalty to his former team questioned recently.
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Before the Philadelphia Eagles clinched their second-ever Super Bowl by thrashing the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22, Strahan spoke with current Eagles player Saquon Barkley about his journey to the sport’s biggest stage. Barkley made the surprising decision to switch from the Giants to the Eagles in March 2024 – a move that drew criticism as the teams are direct division rivals in the NFC East.
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However, it proved to be the right choice for Barkley, who excelled in Philadelphia, rushing for 2,005 yards and scoring 13 touchdowns – a significant improvement from his 962-yard season for the Giants in 2023. During the interview, Barkley brought out an Eagles flag and urged Strahan to join the pre-Super Bowl excitement.
The FOX analyst initially refused but then swung the flag in the air as he said: “For all you Giants fans out there, I’ve been around a lot of guys who left the Giants and gone to other places that I did not like, and I never liked them. But he’s such a special man. C’mon, we’re going to ‘Fly, Eagles, Fly’ with Saquon Barkley because I respect the brother, man, so much. And we don’t have a flag in New York.”
He then jokingly added: “Anyone who needs real estate in New York, I have to sell my house.”
Strahan sparked controversy with his Eagles flag-flying choices (Image: YouTube )
Many Giants fans were understandably left angered by Strahan’s actions and aired their upset on social media over his support for their division rivals. One said: “I can’t believe I had to watch Michael Strahan wave an Eagles flag on live TV.”
Another added: “Michael Strahan is a traitor. LT is the best defensive Giant ever.” A third expressed disbelief as they said: “I still can’t believe Michael Strahan did that s—.”
Despite the tongue-in-cheek nature of his comment about selling his real estate in New York, this isn’t the first time the ex-NFL champion has stirred the pot on the FOX network.
Here, Mirror US Sport have examined some of Strahan’s most contentious moments, from a surprising decision during the national anthem to his rookie phase in broadcasting.
‘Burn the footage’ – Strahan’s early days in broadcasting
Strahan, who is known for his matter-of-fact analysis on FOX, wasn’t always so comfortable in front of the camera. During the Super Bowl pre-game show, he was interviewed by current Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston and shared a story about one of his first media gigs as a “young cat”.
Strahan recalled being invited to the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit party early in his career and said: “Who doesn’t when you’re a 20-something-year-old young man?”
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However, upon arrival, he was handed a microphone and asked to interview models – an experience he admitted didn’t go well. The 53-year-old said: “When I got there, they handed me a microphone and asked me to interview the models. I have never seen the footage. I hope that the footage is burned because I was so nervous that I was garbage!”
He added: “You would’ve never thought I’d have a career after that.”
Despite this early hiccup, Strahan has carved out a successful broadcasting career and even joked: “I’m the only guy on TV that, you know, spits on people when I say the letter ‘S’ with the gap in my teeth, and I can stay employed, so I’ll keep it.”
Criticizing the Philadelphia Eagles defense
Strahan’s opinions aren’t always on point, as evident when he critiqued the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense mid-season. Strahan shared his thoughts on the Eagles ‘ season during a special FOX NFL Sunday episode in New York for the Thanksgiving games.
At that point, the Eagles were 9-2, having beaten the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, and Washington Commanders. However, Strahan noted that the team “haven’t played their best football” and that the offense was shouldering a lot of the weight.
He said: “They’re being led by the offense, which is unusual to what we’ve seen in the past.”
Michael Strahan has been criticized before (Image: Jamie Squire/Getty Images )
The Hall of Famer also described the Eagles’ defense as “kinda middle of the road,” adding: “For Philadelphia, they have a tough schedule as well. The game against Buffalo isn’t a cakewalk.
“Once they put it all together, and hopefully with all the injuries that are no longer in their defensive backfield, their defense will be where it was before.”
The crowd in New York responded with audible boos, indicating that some fans – likely Eagles supporters – disagreed with Strahan’s assessment. The Eagles ultimately finished with a 14-3 record and made it to the Super Bowl, where their defense delivered a remarkable performance against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Eagles defense certainly proved Strahan wrong (Image: CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images )
Patrick Mahomes and his Chiefs offensive lineup couldn’t secure a point against the Eagles until just before the third quarter wrapped up. The Eagles defense overwhelmed them, securing two interceptions from Mahomes – one returned by rookie Cooper DeJean for a pick-six touchdown and the other paving the way for an AJ Brown TD walk-in to cap off the second quarter.
The scoreline was a commanding 34-0 in favor of the Eagles before Kansas City could even make their mark on the scoreboard, with Mahomes feeling the heat as he was sacked six times during the matchup.
The Eagles’ defensive squad definitely brought their A-game to the sport’s grandest stage, leaving Strahan presumably regretting his words.
Controversial national anthem moment on Veteran’s Day
Strahan ended up in hot water even earlier in 2024 with his controversial national anthem behavior. In an event captured during FOX’s traditional Veteran’s Day broadcast from Naval Base San Diego, the ex-Giants star kept his hands by his side instead of placing them over his heart – a standard gesture during the anthem performance.
This act didn’t go unnoticed, as several viewers condemned Strahan for what they viewed as a lack of respect towards both the moment and the servicemen and servicewomen present whom he was there to honor.
One individual chastised Strahan online as they said: “What’s wrong with Strahan? @NFLonFOX ? Blatant disrespect for the men and women he is surrounded by protecting his rights and freedoms.”
Another added: “Strahan couldn’t put his hand over his heart? HAPPY VETERANS DAY TO EVERYONE EXCEPT MICHAEL STRAHAN!! NO CLASS!!”
After the incident, Strahan was approached by a reporter outside his home, leading to an altercation where the TV personality grabbed and threw away the journalist’s phone. Strahan later took to social media to apologize for his actions, expressing regret but explaining his instinct to “protect” his family and privacy.
Addressing the national anthem incident that sparked controversy, Strahan clarified that he wasn’t protesting on air. He emphasized his deep respect for the military due to his family’s service background.
The FOX star explained: “I have nothing to protest; I have no statement to be made. The only statement that should be made that I want to make is I love the military, I’ve always loved the military and I will always love the military. I do so many programs to help veterans and soldiers.
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“I grew up on a military base with a father who was a major in the army. My brother, my sister, my cousins, they all served in the military – I’m a military brat. And so the fact of somebody saying that, you know, I’m unpatriotic, couldn’t be any further from the truth.”
Reflecting on the moment during the anthem, Strahan added: “I somewhat panic and I’m like, ‘Do I be the fool that puts his hand over his heart after or do I just stand here with my hand in front of me respectfully? ‘ Which, that’s what I did, that’s what happened.”
Broncos vs. Chargers quickly descends into controversy as Kirk Herbstreit seeks explanation
Broncos vs. Chargers quickly descends into controversy as Kirk Herbstreit seeks explanation. Thursday’s clash between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers got off to a controversial start after a questionable unnecessary roughness personal foul was issued. Broncos quarterback Bo Nix connected on a short pass to running back Blake Watson, who rumbled downfield for 13 yards. Moments before stepping out of bounds, the undrafted rookie lowered his shoulder into Chargers safety Tony Jefferson – resulting in a vicious helmet-to-helmet collision. Jefferson was promptly assessed an unnecessary roughs personal foul for the hit, thereby moving the ball from the Chargers’ six yard line up to the three. The Broncos promptly capitalized on the favorable field position, as Audric Estime punched the ball in for a touchdown on the ensuing play. With zero time left on the clock, Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker nailed the first successful fair-catch free kick since 1976.
Thursday’s clash between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers got off to a controversial start after a questionable unnecessary roughness personal foul was issued
Chargers safety Tony Jefferson was issued a questionable personal foul on Thursday (Image: Prime Video )
Kirk Herbstreit was left searching for answers after a controversial penalty call was made in Thursday’s AFC West clash between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers.
With just under eight minutes remaining in the first quarter, Broncos quarterback Bo Nix connected on a short pass to running back Blake Watson, who rumbled downfield for 13 yards. Moments before stepping out of bounds, the undrafted rookie lowered his shoulder into Chargers safety Tony Jefferson – resulting in a vicious helmet-to-helmet collision.
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Jefferson was promptly assessed an unnecessary roughness personal foul for the hit, thereby moving the ball from the Chargers’ six yard line up to the three. The Broncos promptly capitalized on the favorable field position, as Audric Estime punched the ball in for a touchdown on the ensuing play.
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On the heels of the brutal collision, Herbstreit asked rules analyst Terry McAulay for his opinion on the play. “Terry, what do you see there?” he said.
According to McAulay, the incident was hardly deserving of a penalty flag. “Kirk, it just looks like a normal shoulder-to-shoulder hit,” he began. “There’s some contact to the helmet. I don’t see him lower his head and initiate or make forceful contact to the opponent. I really don’t see a foul there.”
Taking to social media, droves of NFL fans expressed a similar sentiment. “Great football play by offense and defense… great job by officials to insert themselves for zero reason as usual,” one X user wrote, with another adding: “No idea how the RB lowers his helmet and it’s unnecessary roughness on the defense.”
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A third chimed in: “I’m frustrated with the current unnecessary roughness rule, especially regarding helmet-to-helmet contact. The rule needs adjustment to better account for such situations.”
Others came to the defense of official Clay Martin, insisting that he made the right call. “Uhhh. It was direct helmet to helmet,” someone noted. Another person exclaimed: “Not sure what the rules analyst was watching!”
Following the controversial end to their first offensive drive of the game, the Broncos would continue to find success through the air and on the ground in the first half. Upon receiving the ball again, Nix orchestrated a 12 play, 70-yard scoring drive capped off by a one-yard touchdown pass to fullback Michael Burton.
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Later in the second quarter, the Broncos put together another 70-yard drive that finished with a six-yard touchdown pass to wideout Devaughn Vele. As both teams trotted off the field at the close of the second quarter, Nix finished the first half completing 15-of-21 passes for 155 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Before the first half came to an end, however, Herbstreit was once again left baffled by a niche play. With zero time left on the clock, Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker nailed the first successful fair-catch free kick since 1976.
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Tom Brady leaves FOX NFL Sunday viewers stunned with offensive Josh Allen comment
As the word “spazz” was removed from the Seattle Seahawks, the remark “He’s definitely getting a phone call” was added to the list of things to look out for in this year’s “Super Bowl” This year’s Super Bowl kicked off in New York City on Sunday night. The event will be streamed live on CNN.com, Facebook.com and Twitter.com. It will also be available on the CNN iReport mobile app, which is available in the U.S. and Canada. It is also available in Australia and New Zealand. This is the first time the event has been held in the United States, which was previously the only country to host the Super Bowl. The show will be held in Chicago, Illinois, from September 26 to September 28. The opening ceremony will take place at 8 p.m. ET on September 27. The final episode will be broadcast on September 28 at 8:30 p.M ET.
Retired NFL star turned analyst Tom Brady shocked NFL fans to the point of disbelief after calling Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen a ‘spazz’ on live TV from the booth against the Seattle Seahawks
Tom Brady referred to Josh Allen as a “spazz” on TV (Image: X/Getty )
During Sunday’s NFL coverage, Tom Brady made waves in his analyst role by casually referring to Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen as a “spazz” on live television. As the Bills faced off against the Seattle Seahawks, the remark left many NFL fans stunned, sparking an immediate online reaction as viewers scrambled to confirm they had heard him correctly.
Brady stirred the pot during the first half of the game as the Bills held a 7-0 lead. Referring to Allen, he said, “Sometimes he plays like a spazz, like a grade-schooler on a sugar high.” The offhand remark shocked NFL fans as the legendary quarterback-turned-commentator brought his signature frankness, though perhaps more than viewers were expecting.
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The seven-time Super Bowl winner’s critique of Allen caused one NFL fan on X to seem genuinely stunned, writing, “Did Tom Brady just call Josh Allen a SPAZZ?” Another NFL fan echoed the sentiment with, “Brady really just said a player played like a spazz… Ew.”
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The word “spazz” was removed from Beyonce’s song “Heated” on her 2022 Renaissance album after criticism from disability advocates who told the term’s offensive definitions in some cultures. Pop artist Lizzo met nearly identical complaints for using the same word in her song “Grrrls” on her 2022 album Special.
Allen’s misstep came late in the second quarter, with the Bills clinging to a four-point lead over Seattle. Attempting to answer the Seahawks’ previous field goal, Allen’s drive came to a quick end in just three plays when his short pass to the right side of the field intended for Amari Cooper was intercepted by Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe.
As the reactions poured in, some fans speculated that Brady might get a call from network execs for the slip-up, with one saying, “He’s definitely getting a phone call during this commercial break for that comment.” Others were amused by Brady’s newfound candidness in the booth, and one fan was laughingly observing. “I see Tom Brady is starting to loosen up in the booth,” with a string of laughing emojis.
Brady’s “Hey Macarena” dad joke in the booth during the game also didn’t go over well with NFL fans. One fan vented, “I’m just trying to watch the Bills game. Why is Tom Brady here making Macarena jokes?” After his unenthusiastic attempt at humor fell flat, his style was called awkward and unfitting for the live broadcast environment.
NFL fans supported Josh Allen after Brady’s comments (Image: Getty )
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Another viewer bluntly shared, “It’s kind of unbelievable how bad Tom Brady is in the booth. Being an insane psychopath doesn’t translate well to having to be a likable studio guy.” The audience reactions only got harsher, with another fan flat out saying, “Live television is a different kind of beast, and Tom Brady stinks at it,” and another adding, “The best part of hearing Tom Brady on Fox nowadays is we finally get to see him be bad at something.”
Allen rebounded from his earlier interception to close out the first half on a high note, connecting with tight end Dalton Kincaid for a 12-yard touchdown pass. The throw extended the Bills lead to 14-3 at halftime.
Allen’s halftime stats reflected a solid overall performance, as he completed 16 of 22 passes for 152 yards, with two touchdowns, one interception, and a single sack. His ability to extend plays outside of the pocket was key, as evidenced by his first-quarter touchdown pass to rookie Keon Coleman.
NFL faces calls for radical change to holding penalties after Super Bowl controversy
NFL analyst J.J. Watt believes holding calls should only be a five-yard offense. The former Houston Texans’ defensive end proposed his plan during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show. Some fans expressed concern that if referees knew the penalty was less severe, they might call it more frequently. Others suggested that touchdowns get ratings, and the NFL wants to avoid an influx of holding calls ruin the chances of scoring. The sentiment regarding a lack of offensive holding calls during NFL games has been echoed by several of the league’s top defensive stars. The Dallas Cowboys EDGE rusher Micah Parsons highlighted the need for more holding calls this season after going 38 consecutive quarters without drawing the penalty. He said the NFL should have a “long conversation” about the issue in the offseason.
NFL analyst J.J. Watt believes that holding calls should only be a five-yard offense, which would cause officials to increase the frequency of calling the infraction without ruining the game
JJ Watt wants the rule reduced to a five-yard penalty
Former NFL player turned analyst J.J. Watt suggests that reducing holding penalties from 10 yards to 5 would encourage more officials to enforce the penalty.
Watt aims to decrease the penalty yardage for offensive holding calls beginning in the 2024 season. The former Houston Texans’ defensive end proposed his plan on Wednesday during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show. “I think the refs understand that a 10-yard penalty is a massive penalty in the NFL,” Watt said. “So I think if you made [it] a 5-yard penalty, I think it’s going to be called much more fairly and much more realistically. Because it’s not as crippling to the offense.”
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NFL fans online suggested that while Watt’s logic was fair, they expressed concern that if referees knew the penalty was less severe, they might call it more frequently, significantly slowing down the game’s pace. Others suggested that touchdowns get ratings, and the NFL wants to avoid an influx of holding calls ruin the chances of scoring.
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One fan wrote: “Why not just tell officials to call the game correctly.” Another replied: “Or maybe the refs could just call it, when it’s supposed to be called.”
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Watt’s rationale for advocating increased offensive holding calls stems from Super Bowl 58, where the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers by a final score of 25-22 in overtime.
Holding penalties were a significant talking point throughout the game, as observers noted that Chiefs offensive linemen appeared to hold their opponents until Patrick Mahomes escaped the pocket. At that point, they would release, avoiding penalties. Due to the frequency of this occurrence, Watt believes that a reduced punishment would incentivize officials to penalize offensive linemen more consistently.
The sentiment regarding a lack of holding calls during NFL games has been echoed by several of the league’s top defensive stars. J.J.’s brother, TJ Watt, expressed his belief that the league has an agenda against him, citing just one holding call against him as a pass rusher last season. As an All-Pro EDGE rusher, he drew five holding penalties while defending the run.
Some fans and experts felt there were missed holding calls in Super Bowl LVIII (Image: Focus on Sport/Getty Images )
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Dallas Cowboys EDGE rusher Micah Parsons also asserted that the league heavily favors offenses. Parsons highlighted the need for more holding calls he has received this season after going 38 consecutive quarters without drawing the penalty.
“I definitely think there’s a lot of biased things around the league and who they want to call things on and how they call and who they call it [on],” Parsons said. “I think [the NFL] should have a long conversation this offseason.”
“The film is out there,” he continued. “It’s something they need to look at. A lot of these calls should be [reviewable]. These flags are game-changing plays. But it’s an offensive league. They want to keep as much points on the board as possible and as many drives alive as possible. It is what it is. At the end of the day, you have to still play.”