Steelers Connected To Risky Choice At Quarterback As Team Is Seen As A "Wild Card"

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot of meat left on the bone in the 2025 season as the team is pushing forward with an 8-6 record. The group is currently trying to clinch a spot in the postseason by winning the AFC North. The season is far from over and the AFC seems relatively wide open, so a good portion of the fan base in Pittsburgh is holding out hope that the franchise can end its drought of playoff success. There is another sect of fans however, that have essentially given up hope and are more focused on the future, and primarily figuring out the quarterback situation.

Pittsburgh went out and signed Aaron Rodgers during the 2025 offseason to a one-year deal, and he has not said for certain whether or not he will be retiring after the 2025 season. If he decides he wants to be keep playing, it is fair to assume that he might not want to go to another organization again, so he could return to Pittsburgh. However, if he does decide to stop playing football, the Steelers need a plan to move forward. Will Howard and Mason Rudolph are both under contract in 2026, but the organization will likely want other options as the starter. 

The Steelers could find themselves in a spot to draft a quarterback, but if not, the organization will look to the veteran market yet again. One interesting name that is expected to be available is Daniel Jones. The Steelers were mentioned as a "wild card" when it comes to going after Jones in a recent article by Jeff Howe of The Athletic.

"The Colts should be considered the favorites to keep Jones, but don’t rule out a wild card like the Minnesota Vikings or Pittsburgh Steelers if they view him as an upgrade," Howe wrote.

Pittsburgh is a wild card because there is a lot that isn't known about the future of the quarterback position for the franchise. Rodgers' future is unknown as mentioned, and probably won't be known for a while. The franchise has no pressure to start a sixth-round pick like Howard, and the organization already knows what it has in Rudolph. The Steelers won't likely be in a good spot to trade up to the top of the draft to land a quarterback, so Jones would probably be a viable option.

There is an obvious issue when it comes to pursuing a quarterback like Jones, and that is health. The quarterback was playing on a partially broken leg a couple of weeks ago, and he tore his Achilles in Week 14 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Depending on who is asked, an injury like that typically takes 9-12 months to bounce back from. Thankfully, the broken leg and Achilles are in two different legs. If they were the same leg, the broken bone could have caused swelling that would have delayed an Achilles surgery in all likelihood.

Jones is currently on a one-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts, and it should be expected for the Colts to look to keep him around on an extension. He was having the best season of his career with the Colts, and he was even considered an MVP candidate at certain parts of the 2025 season. The only question moving forward regarding Jones is going to be his value as he comes off of a serious injury. A disagreement between him and the Colts on that matter could drive him towards signing elsewhere.

Steelers Will Have Several Interesting Options At Quarterback If Needed

Jones is one option for Pittsburgh, but there are others out there. Mac Jones played great when he started games for the San Francisco 49ers in 2025, but he is under contract with the 49ers in 2026. He would have to be traded for, which does complicate things. 

Many fans would like to see Pittsburgh try its best to land the quarterback of the future through the NFL Draft, but that is seeming less and less realistic as the years go by.

What do you think about Daniel Jones potentially landing in Pittsburgh? Let us know in the comments below!

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