On Monday, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced major roster changes by cutting punter Pressley Harvin III, offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor, and quarterback Mitch Trubisky. With his departure, Trubisky’s stint comes to an end. He joined the team in March 2022 with great expectations but unable to live up to them on the field.
Ben Roethlisberger retired, and Trubisky was initially expected to step in as the starting quarterback. However, his time as the quarterback was characterized by poor performance and consistency. He was benched in favor of youngster Kenny Pickett after starting four games.
This season, Trubisky had more difficulties as he replaced an injured Pickett yet was unable to win games against strong opponents like New England and Indianapolis. In the end, third-string quarterback Mason Rudolph took his spot.
In addition to signaling Trubisky’s departure, the Steelers will have a substantial amount of salary cap space—roughly $11.5 million—for the next two seasons as a result of his release. The organization also parted ways with Okorafor, a stalwart of the offensive line who has started 59 games for the Steelers since being selected in the 2018 draft, in addition to Trubisky.
Even though Okorafor inked a hefty contract extension in 2022, his benching halfway through the season suggested that he would be leaving, especially with youngster Broderick Jones on the rise.
With his departure from Pittsburgh, Trubisky has closed a difficult chapter in his career that started in 2017 with him being selected with the second overall pick and high hopes.
Although he showed glimpses of athleticism, his time with the Steelers and the Chicago Bears was tainted by inconsistent play and unsolved mechanics and decision-making difficulties.