As we look back one year later, the opening stretch of 2025 free agency stands out as one of the most dramatic and defining pivots of the Omar Khan era. What began as a quiet, uncertain lead-in to the new league year quickly erupted into a franchise-shaping sequence of moves—headlined by a blockbuster trade, a reshuffled quarterback room, and a roster that was clearly preparing to look very different than the one fans watched in 2024.
This installment of our 2025 Steelers Offseason Recall revisits those first chaotic days of March, when Pittsburgh’s direction snapped into focus and the organization began reshaping its identity for the season ahead.
A Blockbuster Trade Before Free Agency
The first jolt came on March 10, when reports confirmed that the Steelers had executed a stunning trade for Seahawks star wideout D.K. Metcalf. The move, long speculated but never guaranteed, instantly reframed the team’s offseason trajectory. Pittsburgh sent Seattle a 2025 second-round pick and a late-round swap while committing to a five-year, $150 million extension for the former Pro Bowler.
The acquisition did more than add a premier receiver—it signaled intent. The Steelers were no longer dabbling in incremental upgrades.
The ripple effects were immediate: questions about George Pickens’ future, speculation about how the receiver room would be reshaped, and a clear shift in how the Steelers would allocate their draft capital. Despite the blockbuster trade, the Steelers super bowl odds barely nudged, however, mostly due to not knowing who would be throwing the football to the star receiver at that time.
Despite those odds, the Metcalf trade didn’t just add a weapon—it reshaped the Steelers’ entire offseason blueprint.
A Roster Poised to Look Very Different
Two days after the trade, the early free-agency picture sharpened further. Pittsburgh’s roster was already undergoing the natural yearly turnover, but the opening week of the new league year made it clear that the 2025 Steelers would not resemble the 2024 version in several key areas.
One of those areas was the quarterback room, where the team made little effort to bring back the 2024 group of Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and Kyle Allen. Instead, a familiar face — Mason Rudolph — who was drafted by the team in 2018. Rudolph would ensure some stability at the quarterback position, as the team awaited an answer on whether Aaron Rodgers might play in 2025, or retire.
The Steelers also began reinforcing the middle and lower tiers of the roster with targeted, value-driven signings.
Veteran corner Darius Slay added leadership and stability to a secondary in transition. Linebacker Malik Harrison brought physicality and run-stopping ability to a unit that needed depth. Cornerback Brandin Echols offered versatility and special teams value, while safety Juan Thornhill provided a proven, rangy presence on the back end.
On offense, the Steelers added running back Kenneth Gainwell, a move that signaled a desire to diversify the backfield with a shifty, pass-catching complement to their existing power options.
Moving On From Justin Fields
Free agency wasn’t just about who arrived—it was also about who didn’t return. And that became most evident at quarterback. By March 14, the Steelers’ quarterback situation looked dire. Justin Fields signed a two-year, $40 million deal with the New York Jets, ending his brief tenure in Pittsburgh and sparking debate among fans who believed the team had let a potential long-term answer walk out the door.
For many, Fields’ on-field results didn’t justify a major investment. Despite a 4–2 record as a starter, the offense sputtered, scoring just 18, 13, and 20 points in three of those wins. One of those wins, against the Atlanta Falcons, was due to six field goals converted by Chris Boswell.
Many were looking at the former first rounder to develop into a franchise quarterback, but Fields’ long-standing issues—holding the ball too long, high sack rates, inconsistent accuracy, and limited passing production—persisted in Pittsburgh.
Financially, the decision was even clearer. Pittsburgh had already declined his fifth-year option, and matching the Jets’ contract would have meant paying more than they intended for a player they likely viewed as bridge quarterback. The Steelers’ “free trial” of Fields had run its course, and they walked away with a potential compensatory pick that could exceed the value of what they traded to acquire the QB from the Bears.
A Franchise Redefining Itself in Real Time
The opening days of 2025 free agency were less about splash signings and more about clarity. The Steelers entered March with major questions about their offensive identity, their quarterback future, and the direction of their roster construction. Within a week, those questions had some answers:
- D.K. Metcalf became the centerpiece of a retooled offense.
- Aaron Rodgers emerged as the favorite to be the quarterback the organization was prepared to pursue, despite no official statement at the time.
- Justin Fields departed, validating the team’s long-term evaluation that he was not a franchise passer.
- Darius Slay, Malik Harrison, Brandin Echols, Juan Thornhill, and Kenneth Gainwell rounded out a wave of strategic roster additions.
- The roster began shifting toward a new set of draft priorities, with wide receiver no longer a top priority.
Looking back now, it’s clear that this stretch marked the true beginning of Pittsburgh’s next chapter.
Stay tuned as we revisit another key moment from last season in next week’s Recall.