The Pittsburgh Steelers have to make a decision as to who their starting quarterback is going to be for the 2025 season. With Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers as the two top options, Steelers fans are just waiting. Rodgers is the frontrunner, as Pittsburgh apparently feels he still has MVP-level quarterbacking in him. If the Steelers truly wanted Wilson as their first option, they would have struck a deal by now. The fact that Wilson doesn't have a new deal done with the Steelers for the 2025 season shows how much higher the organization is viewing Rodgers than him.
Sebastian Foltz / Post-Gazette
Steelers' Justin Fields arrives at training camp in Latrobe ahead of the 2024 season.
The Steelers also allowed 26-year-old Justin Fields to walk out of their building. The New York Jets offered Fields a better deal, and he took it. Many fans viewed Fields as the potential future, but Pittsburgh clearly wasn’t willing to commit. Whether that was the right move or not, it leaves the Steelers with two aging quarterbacks and a critical decision ahead.
Former Steelers two-time Super Bowl champion offensive lineman Trai Essex didn’t hold back on social media. He sounded off on how Pittsburgh has handled the quarterback situation, calling it frustrating and short-sighted. Essex made it clear he believes the team has mishandled its future and questioned why the front office couldn’t secure a long-term answer under center in Fields.
"Could’ve had a 26 yr old QB with potential for 20 milly a year for 2 years," Essex wrote on his social media. "And still draft a guy. Instead, we are waiting on a 41 year old coming off his one of his worst years to overpay. At this point, we truly are better off just having Mason [Rudolph] start and hope that we can find something in the draft."
The Steelers also brought back Mason Rudolph after one season away from the team. Rudolph saved the Steelers' 2023 season in heroic fashion, leading them into the playoffs when all hope seemed lost. But despite that magical run, not many around the league — or in Pittsburgh — are confident that he’s a long-term starting quarterback. He’s a great backup option and safety net, but the Steelers know they need more.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph looks to try and complete a pass during the team's Week 16 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Meanwhile, Wilson is eager and waiting on the Steelers to finalize a new deal for him. He’s said all the right things and shown excitement about staying in Pittsburgh, but the reality is the front office appears to have its sights set higher. They clearly would rather pay more for Rodgers and go all-in for a potential Super Bowl run.
Now, it all comes down to what Rodgers decides. If Rodgers picks Pittsburgh, the team likely won’t have a long-term future at quarterback just yet — but they would be legitimate Super Bowl contenders in the eyes of many. It’s a gamble, but one that could finally bring the Steelers back to the top if it pays off.
Steelers Could Have Final Laugh With Aaron Rodgers
The fascinating part of the equation for the Steelers is that you really can’t fault them for swinging big. All offseason, fans have criticized the front office for settling for the status quo. Now, they’re proving they understand the urgency of the moment. They know they’re in a tough position, but seem willing to take a massive gamble by paying a 41-year-old quarterback a huge contract. It’s risky and uncertain, but it’s different, and if healthy, Rodgers could be the missing piece that pushes them over the top.
AP Photo / Frank Franklin II
Former New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers nods to acknowledge someone speaking in his direction.
In 2024, Rodgers was coming off a devastating Achilles injury. He only helped the Jets win five games, and there were plenty of questions about whether he could still perform at a high level. But as the season progressed, he looked more comfortable, showing flashes of the talent that once made him an MVP. Many around the league still believe Rodgers has elite quarterbacking left in him, and that belief is exactly what the Steelers are banking on.
If that belief turns out to be right, the Steelers could have the last laugh. Rodgers’ performance in 2025 could define the team’s season and silence critics who questioned the gamble. It’s a bold move, and one that could either secure Pittsburgh’s place among Super Bowl contenders or leave them once again searching for answers at the game’s most important position.
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