Ex-Bills QB Mitch Trubisky Sends Message After Signing With Steelers

Mitch Trubisky

Getty Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky spent 2021 with the Buffalo Bills.

After a year as the Buffalo Bills‘ backup quarterback, Mitchell Trubisky is returning to his role as a starter for the 2022 NFL season.

On Monday, March 14, news broke that the 27-year-old is taking his talents to the Pittsburgh Steelers. NFL Network’s Mike Garafalo tweeted, “The #Steelers have reached agreement on a two-year deal with QB Mitchell Trubisky, sources say. The former No. 2 overall pick heads to Pittsburgh as the expected starter in place of the retired Ben Roethlisberger.”

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Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Trubisky sent Schefter a text message about how he’s “beyond excited and blessed” to be a part of the Steelers organization.

Reaction on Twitter was strong but mixed following news of Trubisky’s deal with the Steelers. Some fans were glad the Steelers signed Trubisky, a free agent, rather than trading for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garappolo, while others found little excitement in learning the former No. 2 overall pick from the 2017 NFL draft was heading to Pittsburgh.

Trubisky was named only as the Steelers’ “expected” starter, however. WPXI’s Jenna Harner tweeted, “Trubisky’s role as the starter, however, is not set in stone. Steelers GM Kevin Colbert and President Art Rooney II repeatedly said they would be bringing in another QB to compete with Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins for the starting job. Mitch Trubisky is now that guy.”

Before he signed with the Steelers, Trubisky’s name had been linked to numerous teams, including the Indianapolis Colts, Washington Commanders, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But that list shrank considerably following a flurry of transactions this past week. The Colts traded Carson Wentz to Washington, the Broncos acquired Russell Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks and Tom Brady decided to come out of retirement.


Trubisky Says He’s Ready for his Next Opportunity

Mitch Trubisky

GettyTrubisky is 29-21 in 50 career starts.

Trubisky appears to have taken in stride his journey from being a first-round draft pick and starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears to being a backup player.

After the Bears fired coach Matt Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace following a disappointing 6-11 season, Trubisky received an onslaught of public apologies for the way he was treated in Chicago. But these offers of validation were not something he needed or was waiting for.

“You’ve just got to believe like deep down that everything you’re working on is going to pay off eventually,” Trubisky told The Buffalo News in a story published January 30. “And they say the things you do in the dark will shine in the light someday when you get the opportunity. Hopefully, when I get that next opportunity, I’ll be able to shine.”


Who Will Replace Trubisky in Buffalo?

Ryan Fitzpatrick

Ryan Fitzpatrick, 39, spent the 2021 season with the Washington Football Team.

The Bills had been preparing for Trubisky to move on from their team, and now they’re looking for a new backup quarterback behind Josh Allen. Several names, including Marcus Mariota and Ryan Fitzpatrick, have been floated in recent weeks as possible replacements for Trubisky.

And an unexpected player suddenly added himself to that list on March 10. In a surprise announcement, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick said that he’s “still working” toward an NFL comeback.

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