Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, a free agent, plans to sign a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he told ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler on Monday.
Trubisky said his decision was made for the Steelers and the New York Giants.
“It was the best opportunity for me and my family… the best way to get back on the field and try to win games… You have to go out and earn it,” he told Fowler.
In Pittsburgh, he will compete against Mason Rudolph for the starting quarterback position as the franchise enters an era after Ben Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger retired in January after 18 seasons with the Steelers, in which he helped lead the franchise to two Super Bowl victories and finished his career with the fifth-highest passer (64,088) in NFL history.
The Steelers also have former first-rounder Duane Haskins on the roster, and general manager Kevin Colbert said earlier this month he’s going to go to training camp with four quarterbacks.
Time away from the starting role paid off for Trubisky, who spent last season as a backup quarterback for the Buffalo Bills. He signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract to play behind starter Josh Allen while learning from quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey and offensive coordinator Brian Daball, now head coach of the New York Giants.
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Although his only playing time came when games were unavailable, Trubisky, a former Chicago Bears player, was given the opportunity to start fresh in a new environment.
“The trip to Buffalo really opened my eyes,” Trubisky told Fowler in February. “… [Being] in Buffalo and [having] another way of doing things, you will learn what is possible. It helped me get back to instinctive football and use my talents instead of overthinking.”
Trubisky, the second overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, started 50 games in four seasons with the Bears, finishing 29-21. He completed 64.1% of his career passes, 64 touchdowns and 38 interceptions. He also has 1,081 career yards and nine touchdowns.
Trubisky, 27, has had a rocky career with the Bears. He made the Pro Bowl in 2018 before being replaced by then-coach Matt Nagy in 2020 after failing to live up to high expectations.
He found success in the Bills’ preseason game against the Bears in 2021, finishing 20 of 28 for 221 yards and a touchdown.
Alaina Goetzenberg of ESPN and Brooke Pryor contributed to this report.