The Pittsburgh Steelers released Mitch Trubisky on Monday, and there have been multiple places floated about where he could end up going. But Tony Grossi, a prominent writer in Cleveland, has an idea of where Trubisky could go — the Steelers’ rival, the Cleveland Browns, to help replace Joe Flacco, who is likely on his way out.
“Mitch Trubisky as a backup potentially,” Grossi said on ESPN Cleveland. “First of all Trubisky was highly regarded by the Paul DePodesta and Andrew Berry regime when he came out of the draft. And also there’s the Ken Dorsey link. Trubisky went from Chicago to Buffalo as the backup, with Brian Daboll the coordinator at the time. Dorsey was the quarterbacks coach. I think Trubisky will be the candidate from Ken Dorsey.”
Trubisky, 29, started two games and made three relief appearances for the Steelers in 2023. He filled in for Kenny Pickett three times when the Steelers’ starter left the game with an injury, and after Pickett suffered a significant ankle injury against the Arizona Cardinals on Dec. 3, Trubisky became the Steelers’ starter.
Things didn’t go well for Trubisky or the Steelers, as the team lost to the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts in consecutive weeks, seeing their playoff hopes pushed to the brink. Trubisky was benched at the end of the Colts game in favor of Mason Rudolph and did not return to action in 2023.
On the season, Trubisky completed 67 of 107 passes for 632 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions. The Steelers lost all five games in which he appeared.
The miserable 2023 season came on the heels of a disappointing 2022, as well. Trubisky was signed in 2022 with the intention of being the team’s starting quarterback, but after the team drafted Pickett in the first round, Trubisky got the hook just four games into the season with a 1-3 record.
He ended up returning for three relief appearances, filling in for Pickett to mixed results. He helped out-duel Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6, throwing for 144 yards and a touchdown in one half for his best statistical performance as a Steelers. He also helped lead a conservative ground-attack game plan over the Carolina Panthers in Week 15.
But when Pickett suffered a concussion early in the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 13, Trubisky threw three interceptions, and the Ravens beat the Steelers in the game that ultimately kept them out of the playoffs in 2022.
The interceptions ended up being the biggest bugaboo for Trubisky over his Steelers tenure. He threw 10 picks in 287 Pittsburgh attempts, or 3.5% of the time. He had throw interceptions in only 2.3% of his drop backs as a four-year starter with the Chicago Bears from 2017-20.
Trubisky re-worked his contract with the Steelers after the 2022 season, so he had two years remaining when he was released by Pittsburgh. By cutting him before June 1, the Steelers will absorb a $4.6 million dead cap hit on their 2024 rolls and will save $2.9 million in salary cap space.
