The Pittsburgh Steelers have to be feeling pretty good heading into Week 6 of the 2025 campaign. Fresh off their bye week, the Steelers are watching the rest of the NFC North division collapse around them, and even with a week off, they are in firm control of their division, despite having played one game less than the Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, and Cleveland Browns.
And yet, the team has found itself at the center of some controversial comments made by one of its former quarterbacks, Joshua Dobbs. When discussing his time with Pittsburgh, Dobbs criticized the team for its handling of its quarterback development, which will surely catch the attention of head coach Mike Tomlin and the rest of his staff.
Joshua Dobbs Puts the Steelers on Blast
Dobbs was selected by the Steelers in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, and he ended up initially working as Ben Roethlisberger’s backup under center. Dobbs spent three seasons with Pittsburgh before latching on with the Jacksonville Jaguars briefly in 2019, only to return to the Steelers for the 2020 and 2021 campaigns.
Since leaving Pittsburgh for the second time, Dobbs has gone on to spend time with the Browns, Detroit Lions, Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, and the New England Patriots, where he is currently the top backup for Drake Maye at quarterback. During his time in the league, Dobbs has experienced several different systems and coaching staffs, so he’s seen all the different sides the NFL has to offer.
According to the man himself, though, it sounds like what he saw at the beginning of his career with the Steelers was the worst experience of his career. When discussing his time with the team, Dobbs revealed that the team never truly worked on developing him and instead decided to throw him into the fire in hopes he could figure things out on his own.
“I’ve seen it both ways,” Dobbs said to Ty Dunne of Go Long. “I’ve shown up for work and I had no clue what I was being asked to do. And I’ve been in a place where you’ve had to come in as a quarterback and it’s like ‘Here’s the game plan, here’s a script.’ You’re figuring out your reads and your footwork and it’s trial by error. There’s no framework of what you’re trying to get done as an offense.”
“I’ve been there. I’ve done it. It’s not enjoyable. I want to know the why. I want to know why and how we’re attacking them. You just want reasoning. As I said, I’ve seen the exact opposite of the coin.”
Steelers Set to Get Back to Work in Week 6
GettyAaron Rodgers of Pittsburgh Steelers looks on against the Minnesota Vikings.
Dobbs has managed to put together a solid career as a backup quarterback, despite his rough experience with the Steelers. Since Roethlisberger’s retirement after the 2021 season, the team has struggled to find his successor, as they quickly gave up on former first-round pick Kenny Pickett and opted to sign Aaron Rodgers in free agency this offseason after relying on Russell Wilson and Justin Fields in 2024.
Pittsburgh has its answer at quarterback for the 2025 season, but there will be a time when it needs to develop its next franchise player at the position. For now, the team is simply riding the wave of success they have enjoyed to begin the season, and they will focus on getting ready for their Week 6 clash with the Cleveland Browns.
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