Michael Vick joined Kay Adams on the Up & Adams show yesterday to discuss the Pittsburgh Steelers’ surprising 2-0 start. The Steelers defeated the Denver Broncos on Sunday, scoring only a first-quarter touchdown in their 13-7 win. Steelers quarterback Justin Fields finished the game completing 13 of 20 passes for 117 yards. Meanwhile, projected starting quarterback Russell Wilson is sidelined with a calf injury, and questions are swirling about whether he should return to the starting role immediately.
Adams asked former All-Pro quarterback Vick what Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin values most in his quarterbacks. Vick, who spent the final season of his NFL career as a backup for the Steelers, emphasized confidence. He also offered insight into the relationship between Tomlin and former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, stating that he believes Roethlisberger is a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
“What Mike Tomlin values most in a quarterback is confidence,” Vick said. “I think Mike and Ben’s relationship, watching it from afar, was about trusting Ben. Ben was more than capable of doing everything the team needed to be successful on offense. Tomlin gave him free rein, and that’s because Ben was a great quarterback—exceptional, in my opinion. First-ballot Hall of Famer, all day. I witnessed it. I heard it. I sat in the meetings and watched them go out and do it.”
Fields has stepped up as a strong leader in the first two weeks of the season. After leaving a tough situation with the Chicago Bears—who, after securing the number one pick in last year’s NFL draft, opted to select quarterback Caleb Williams—Fields is thriving under Tomlin’s leadership. Vick noted that Tomlin’s encouragement and trust can inspire a player to perform at their best, and that confidence can spread throughout the team.
“When you know your coach has confidence in you, you can smile when you step on the field and feel good about what’s happening,” Vick added. “I think with Justin Fields, Tomlin is confident in him. The one thing he knows is that Justin Fields is a problem for any defense.”
The Pittsburgh Steelers will look to stay undefeated as they face off against the Los Angeles Chargers next. Check out Vick’s full interview on the Up & Adams show below.
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