The Pittsburgh Steelers have not been in the position they’re now in at the quarterback position for a long time. 18 years, in fact. As in 2005, the 2023 season marks year two for their young franchise quarterback after taking time during his rookie season—starting as a backup—to establish himself as the unquestioned starter.
Nearly two decades ago it was Ben Roethlisberger, a soon-to-be Hall of Famer who actually became the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl in year two. In the present day, it’s Kenny Pickett, whose team doesn’t feel quite as close. But former Steelers QB Charlie Batch, who was Roethlisberger’s backup for a long time, sees many parallels.