During a recent live recording of Cam Heyward’s “Not Just Football” podcast, which was held during the Pittsburgh Steelers’ draft party, running back Jaylen Warren shared an interesting suggestion made by Steelers special teams coordinator Danny Smith. According to Warren, Smith proposed that Justin Fields, the quarterback the Steelers acquired from the Chicago Bears in a trade back in March, could potentially return kickoffs, now that there’s a new rule preventing players from moving until the returner touches the ball.
When Heyward asked Warren what he thought about the new kickoff rules, Warren replied, “I think it’s pretty good. As soon as you touch the ball, that’s when everything starts to happen.” He then mentioned that Smith’s idea of using Fields as a returner had surprised him and his teammates. “Our special teams coordinator was talking about Justin Fields being back there. We’re like, ‘Hold up, hold up.’ We looked at him like, ‘Justin Fields is about to be back there?’ I don’t know. I think it’s cool.”
Danny Smith has a reputation for thinking outside the box, but this idea seems a bit more unconventional than usual. Fields, who has impressive speed, clocking in at 4.45 in the 40-yard dash during the NFL combine, might be an exciting returner. However, it seems unlikely the Steelers would actually use him in that role, considering they signed veteran return specialist Cordarrelle Patterson earlier in the offseason. Besides, having a backup quarterback on kickoff return duty is a risky move, even with the NFL’s ongoing efforts to make the play safer.
There’s also some uncertainty about whether special teams snaps would count toward the playing-time clause in the trade agreement with the Bears. If Fields plays 51% or more of the offensive snaps, the Steelers’ 2025 sixth-round pick becomes a fourth-rounder, which adds another layer of complexity to the idea of using him on special teams.
While it’s unclear if Fields will actually make an appearance as a returner, Warren did have positive things to say about Fields’ leadership skills as a quarterback. “It’s a night-and-day difference with their leadership,” Warren said, comparing Fields to Russell Wilson. “They bring a lot. They help out. They tell us how to run the route. They’re really on it when you don’t run it a certain way. They’re big on details, kind of what we preach, and it helps a lot.”
Warren also praised the Steelers’ new offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, for his engaging style. “His biggest difference is he’s very interactive in the meetings,” Warren said. “You want to pay attention because he’s gonna call you out if you’re not paying attention. That’s happened a couple times. I think his approach to being the OC is really good.”
