LATROBE, PA (93.7 The Fan) – There are still days and weeks of practice before a final decision has to be made, but Mitch Trubisky has taken all of the Steelers first team reps to date. He feels like he’s building a comradery with his new teammates.
“I think they definitely responded,” Trubisky said Wednesday before the first practice. “When I came in I wanted to show these guys who I am and earn their trust and respect every day. It’s something that takes time, I go out there and be myself and let the chips fall where they will.”
Nerves were present for all of the quarterbacks for the first workout at St. Vincent College. There were pluses and minuses for each, a positive for Trubisky is he completed the longest pass of the day, a beauty to George Pickens around 50 yards downfield.
“He (Mike Tomlin) wants us to go out there and play free,” Trubisky said. “He told us that. You are not worried about every single throw, it’s practice. There are test throws. You let guys go make plays. You got to go out there and not worry about every single throw.”
“That’s part of the territory when it comes to quarterback. You are not holding your head on every single throw anyways. You have to let it go, go out there and play.
When you are not thinking about it that’s when you play at your best anyways.”
Trubisky has been through a lot in just five NFL seasons. The first-round pick of the Bears, the former North Carolina star struggled throwing only seven touchdowns in his first 12 games. He then rebounded to win 11 games with twice as many touchdowns to picks and got the Bears in the playoffs in his second season. The next two seasons weren’t good enough and he signed with the Bills in 2021 as the backup.
After a year in Buffalo working with Offensive Coordinator Brian Daboll, QB Josh Allen and Head Coach Sean McDermott, Trubisky believes it was a good ‘reset year’. He was able to learn a lot. He rebuilt his confidence and feels he comes into this starting opportunity much more prepared than he was stepping in as the Bears starter in 2017 winning four games.
“It’s all about earning that trust and respect and showing them who you are every day,” Trubisky said. “Leading by example and doing the right thing, I think everything will work out. I can be a positive component of this team, just leading guys in the right direction to help this team win.”
It’s seemed like a fit for Trubisky early on with the Steelers. Even with the drafting of Kenny Pickett, who he says he is learning a lot from while also trying to give him advise. Trubisky has done all the things off the field and in the locker room, now he’s got to show it in camp to secure his second chance.
“I feel very comfortable,” Trubisky said. “I feel I have a very good grasp of the offense and what Coach wants us to do. I think the first couple of weeks of training camp we are trying to establish our identity and see what we are good at. My job is to just get the playmakers the ball-Diontae, Chase, Najee, Pat, those guys who can go up and make plays. I’m just trying to lead the offense.”
After his second throw Wednesday, and second incompletion, Trubisky was heckled. A single fan at St. Vincent College yelled out it was time to put Pickett in.
It’s not only living in direct competition with a Pitt Heisman finalist. There is also the multi-Super Bowl winning shadow of the recently retired Ben Roethlisberger.
“Understand that Ben has an amazing legacy here and we respect and honor that,” Trubisky said. “I can only come here and be me, Mitch Trubisky. I’m coming here to compete and help lead these guys.”
He’s got the upper-hand, but still a long way to go.