2 Free Agent QBs Are Waiting For A Decision From Steelers' Aaron Rodgers With Interest In Playing For Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't have a clear-cut answer at the quarterback position for the 2025 season until June. Veteran signal-caller Aaron Rodgers took his time making an official decision, while it's fair to speculate that he had always given the franchise a verbal commitment. When pen was put to paper, he showed up to mandatory minicamp and the team went on to be victorious in 10 games and won the AFC North. Now, as the organization gets set for the 2026 NFL Draft, there has been no evident public information that suggests if the four-time MVP will return, or retire.

The only two under contract at the position are Mason Rudolph and Will Howard. It's completely possible that the coaching staff allows them to battle it out for the starting job if Rodgers does surprise many and walk away from the game. While it seems unlikely based on how well the 2025 campaign went in the grand scheme of things, the Steelers have to be prepared.

Pittsburgh could go on to draft another quarterback if Rodgers isn't back in the building, but bringing in a different veteran has also been floated as a possibility. This is where the options are fairly scarce; however, the front office convincing another older signal-caller to come in can't be ruled out. That doesn't mean, though, that Steelers fans will be thrilled with what's out there.

Albert Breer is a NFL insider for Sports Illustrated and recently discussed the Steelers with analyst Conor Orr. When diving into the Steelers' quarterback situation, Breer said that a couple of veteran free agents that are lingering have to be doing so because the dominos have yet to fall in the Steel City.

"Kirk Cousins, for Joe Flacco, if, you know, they're waiting to see what happens with Aaron Rodgers before they make any sort of move," Breer said. "It's one of like, I think, two, you could say three, legitimately open starting jobs right now."

Kirk Cousins and Joe Flacco will almost certainly be backups in 2026, so there is no reason necessarily for either to sign up for that gig when there are a few starting jobs potentially up for grabs. Orr noted this, and even threw in a third name for Pittsburgh that is contemplating coming out of retirement.

"Everything now is at a standstill because let's imagine, at some point, that Rodgers, you know what, 'I want to live in the Philippines, I'm done. I'm going to get out of here.' That changes Kirk Cousins' plans. That changes the idea of whether or not you'd call Derek Carr. That changes Joe Flacco's plan."

The good part about these two or three options is that none of them even have to start. They may want a chance to, which is why they continue to hold out until Rodgers decides what he wants to do, but Howard or Rudolph could easily win the top spot on the depth chart throughout training camp and the preseason.

Pittsburgh seems more than content with waiting for Rodgers. At this point, there are no true top-notch options available on the open market. So, if the veteran unexpectedly retires and moves on from football, the Steelers have two individuals in the building that can be serviceable, and another veteran can always be thrown into the mix at a later date.

The franchise knows that this stopgap signal-caller game can't go on for much longer. If the team avoids taking the position in the 2026 NFL Draft, it almost seems like a foregone conclusion that the front office will invest in the position come 2027. That is, unless Howard is truly a sixth-round gem.

Steelers Have The Potential To Run It Back With Rodgers

After an aggressive free agency period, it's hard to argue that Pittsburgh's roster isn't better suited for Rodgers in 2026 compared to 2025. The main change is clearly the coaching staff, but Mike McCarthy is not someone whom the signal-caller is unfamiliar with. Until the future Hall of Famer officially commits to the organization, however, there will continue to be chatter about external options.

#SteelerNation