The Buffalo Bills will be looking for a backup quarterback this offseason, and they could turn to a familiar figure who entered the market early.
According to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, the Pittsburgh Steelers have released veteran quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Trubisky lost his spot as No. 2 behind starter Kenny Pickett last season and was replaced by Mason Rudolph, but the timing of his release was surprising given that he had signed a two-year contract extension in 2023.
With Trubisky on the market, one insider advised that the Bills pursue their former backup, who is still highly regarded inside the team.
Josh Allen’s Former Backup Could Return
Trubisky served as the Bills’ backup quarterback in 2021, spending little action behind the dependable Josh Allen. Bills general manager Brandon Beane said there was intense competition for the former Chicago Bears starter and No. 2 overall pick at the time, but he persuaded Trubisky to spend a year with the coaching staff that helped Allen become a star.
“What we pitched to him and his agent was, ‘Just come here for a relaunch. “Work with Josh Allen and our other quarterbacks, Jake Fromm and Davis Webb, (offensive coordinator) Brian Daboll, and (quarterbacks coach) Ken Dorsey,” Beane told SiriusXM NFL. “Come here, have a reset year and just be a part of what we’re doing here.”
According to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic, the Bills might still value Trubisky and pursue him as an affordable free-agent signing.
“Brandon Beane talked glowingly about the job Trubisky did as the Bills backup after the 2021 season,” Buscaglia wrote in a post on “With a likely lowered price point and not counting toward the compensatory formula, I’d put this in the eyes emoji category for the Bills.”
Albert Breer of SI.com joined Buscaglia in projecting Trubisky’s return to Buffalo, citing his potential to give stability behind Allen.
“Mitch Trubisky going back to Buffalo would make all the sense in the world,” Breer said. “He had a pretty good year there in 2021, to the point where Brian Daboll really considered moving the quarterback to the New York Giants with him. And, while the Bills were pleased to have Josh Allen’s friend Kyle Allen there last year, Trubisky would assist to improve the room.”
Insider Predicts Big Season for Bills Starter
Backup quarterbacks have had an easy task in Buffalo over the last five seasons, as Allen has not missed a game due to injury since his rookie year. According to SI.com’s Connor Orr, Allen’s best year could be ahead of him, with the league MVP award coming in 2024.
“How good the Bills will be is a mystery to me,” Orr stated in an email. “But, given the potential of having to do a lot of heavy lifting, I believe Allen has the makings of an MVP candidate. We saw the Bills offense ‘take off’—quotation marks intentional—after the constraints (imposed or implied) on Allen’s mobility were loosened. All of Allen’s highest rushing attempt games occurred after the team dismissed Ken Dorsey, which appeared to push Allen to put himself in danger more often. If Allen can stay healthy while playing this tough style of football, he will be able to outperform his closest competition.”
