Former Steelers QB Makes Final Free Agency Decision: Report

Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky is returning to a familiar setting for the 2024 season.

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported on March 6 that Trubisky has agreed to a contract to return to the Buffalo Bills. Trubisky served as Buffalo’s backup signal caller during the 2021 season.

“The Bills have agree to terms with QB Mitch Trubisky to return to Buffalo, sources say,” Garafolo wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Tim Graham reported they were in talks. Now a done deal.

“The Steelers cut Trubisky early to give him a shot to find his next gig before free agency begins. He’s done just that.”

Trubisky spent the past two seasons with the Steelers. He opened the 2022 season as the team’s starting quarterback, but rookie Kenny Pickett replaced him during halftime of Week 4.

Ironically, Pickett’s first start came against the Bills the following week.

After that, Trubisky made five relief appearances and three other starts for the Steelers over the next 27 games during 2022-23. His performances were wildly inconsistent.

Trubisky started in Weeks 14 and 15 of the 2023 season for an injured Pickett. But trailing by more than two touchdowns in Week 15, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin benched Trubisky in favor of Mason Rudolph. Rudolph then led the Steelers on a 3-game winning streak to end the season.

The Steelers released Trubisky on February 12.

Trubisky finished his Pittsburgh tenure with a 2-5 record as a starter. He also posted a 64.1% completion percentage while averaging 6.6 yards per pass with 8 touchdowns and 10 interception in 12 games.

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QB Mitch Trubisky Rejoining Buffalo Bills

The only season in Trubisky’s seven-year career where he didn’t make a start was the lone campaign he spent with the Bills. In 2021, Trubisky attempted just 8 passes in six appearances as Josh Allen’s backup.

But despite the lack of playing time, he appeared to fit well in Buffalo. On March 6, NFL.com’s Grant Gordon argued that Trubisky earned his second chance as a starter with the Steelers after “showing promise in Buffalo” even with few regular season snaps.

With Trubisky’s return to Buffalo, the Bills will have a very experienced quarterback as Allen’s backup again. This past season, Kyle Allen served as Buffalo’s backup, but he is an unrestricted free agent this spring.

In 2022, Case Keenum was Allen’s backup.

Trubisky, though, may experience a season where he mostly holds a clipboard in 2024. Allen has missed just one start since the beginning of the 2019 season.

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How Trubisky Will Be Remembered in Pittsburgh

It will be interesting to see if Trubisky sitting behind Allen again leads to another starting opportunity for Trubisky in the future. It’s unlikely, though, with Trubisky now having lost his starting job with two different organizations.

He began his career as the No. 2 overall pick to the Chicago Bears in the 2017 NFL draft. After posting a 4-8 record as a starter his rookie season, Trubisky recorded winning records in each of the next three years.

During 2018, he led the Bears to an 11-3 record and earned a Pro Bowl nomination with 24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

But during Week 3 of 2020, the Bears benched Trubisky while trailing the Atlanta Falcons by 16 points. Nick Foles replaced Trubisky and led Chicago to a comeback victory.

Trubisky returned after Foles suffered an injury to start the final six games of the regular season and took the Bears to the playoffs. But Chicago did not retain Trubisky following the season.

After losing his starting job with the Steelers, Trubisky orchestrated a touchdown drive in relief of an injured Pickett against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6 and won a start versus the Carolina Panthers during Week 15 of 2022.

However, Trubisky proved to be a poor backup quarterback during 2023.

The Steelers lost all five contests where Trubisky played last season. His last pass with Pittsburgh was a badly overthrown interception.

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