Justin Fields will enter training camp in strong shape before battling Russell Wilson for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting job.
On Saturday, Fields posted a photo of him and his dad posing shirtless in their garage’s home gym. The 25-year-old quarterback is looking ripped ahead of the 2024 season.
“Best Shape of My Life” stories are a staple of any offseason, but six-pack abs won’t give Fields the QB1 gig. One fan even appeared to argue that he’s too muscular for his position.
“I hope Fields lights the world on fire for the Steelers,” a fan wrote. “The Bears wasted so much talent!”
“Great but all I care about is if he can read a defense and throw accurately in tight windows,” another fan said.
“Pro athlete is in shape! Woah,” a fan said sarcastically.
“This is why he will never be able to throw a football,” a fan theorized.
Of course, there’s no direct correlation between a quarterback’s abs and on-field success. A shirtless photo of Patrick Mahomes drew far different responses than Fields, but the three-time Super Bowl champion claimed his “dad bod” helps him absorb hits.
Besides, nobody ever questioned Fields’ athleticism. He rushed for 1,143 yards in 2022, and running back Jaylen Warren joked about his new teammate returning kicks.
The quarterback’s pocket consistency is the bigger issue that will determine whether he’ll flourish. Fields held his own in three seasons with the Chicago Bears, completing 60.3 percent of his passes with an 82.3 quarterback rating.
Wilson still has the inside track of starting the season under center for Pittsburgh, but Fields will get an opportunity to earn the job this summer.
Related: Shirtless Offseason Photo Of Steelers QB Justin Fields Is Going Viral