Mike Tomlin confirms Mitch Trubisky as Pittsburgh Steelers' starting QB, rookie Kenny Pickett as backup

PITTSBURGH — Mitch Trubisky will start at quarterback for the Steelers in their Week 1 game at Cincinnati, coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday, confirming what's long been the suspected outcome of the offseason quarterback competition.

Trubisky, who was voted one of the Steelers' five captains on Monday, won the job over 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett and longtime backup Mason Rudolph.

«We're just really comfortable with what Mitch has shown us,» Tomlin said. «He's a guy that came to us with franchise quarterback experience. He's comfortable in those shoes. He's been the focal point of a football team, in the organization before. He's had success in doing so. Like I mentioned, when we acquired him, he took the Bears to the playoffs two out of four years. He has a winning record as a starting quarterback. Those things were attractive to us.

»His athleticism and mobility were attractive to us. He took care of the football in-stadium, all our quarterbacks did."

A veteran signed to a two-year, $14.2 million contract in free agency, Trubisky was the favorite in a three-man race entering training camp. A former No. 2 overall pick by the Chicago Bears in 2016, Trubisky arrived in Pittsburgh after a year as Josh Allen's backup with the Buffalo Bills.

Pickett earned the primary backup job through growth that accelerated through the preseason games. Pickett completed 26 of 39 attempts for 261 yards and three touchdowns in three preseason appearances — including a 42-second drive before halftime of the win against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

«I thought his acceleration of development really took off once we stepped into stadiums,» Tomlin said. «And once we started stepping into stadiums, his decision-making — the fluidity of it — his