New Name Enters The Steelers' Quarterback Mix As Insider Floats A Mike McCarthy Reunion

The overwhelming expectation during the 2026 offseason has been that the Pittsburgh Steelers will re-sign Aaron Rodgers to be the team's starting quarterback for at least another year. Until that actually happens, speculation will continue to run rampant throughout league circles. If this doesn't actually come to fruition, the organization will be stuck with a signal-caller room that features Will Howard and Mason Rudolph, pending another signing or draftee joining the group. Someone like Kirk Cousins might be interested in joining the fray as well; it really depends all on the new head coach, Mike McCarthy, and what he wants to do.

The NFL tends to be a league of familiarity. McCarthy doesn't have much experience working with Cousins, but that can also be said about Rudolph and Howard. Because of this, if Rodgers doesn't want to play football in 2026 — or at least for the Steelers — a rather low-key and surprising acquisition could end up happening in the Steel City in relation to the quarterback depth chart.

McCarthy had great success with the Green Bay Packers, and then moved on to lead the Dallas Cowboys' locker room for several seasons. It's intriguing to look back at those rosters and attempt to connect the dots of which available signal-callers might want to follow their former head coach to Pittsburgh. One recently came to mind for a Steelers insider.

Mark Kaboly hosted a mailbag that he posted to social media, and someone asked about what the quarterback room would look like if Rodgers isn't included. In a very simple manner, the reporter added one name to a list that included both Rudolph and Howard.

"Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, Cooper Rush," Kaboly wrote.

Cooper Rush is not going to blow anyone away with stats or accolades. He did, however, step in and start for McCarthy-led Cowboys teams back in 2021, 2022, and 2024. His combined record was 9-5. That is a respectable winning percentage that proves that Rush worked rather well with his play-caller and head coach. If the Steelers truly do want to keep the room relatively under-the-radar, Rush isn't a horrible option.

It is very possible that the Steelers would be recognized as having the most underwhelming quarterback room in the entire NFL if it included Howard, Rudolph and Rush. Pittsburgh would be heavily criticized for not planning around the position better and it seems almost impossible that the trio could help produce another non-losing season in the Steel City.

For Kaboly, however, he doesn't see a world in which Rodgers isn't returning. He made it very clear in the mailbag that the Rush scenario would only be if the four-time MVP shockingly stepped away.

"I believe the Steelers know already, or at least have a really good idea, that he’s coming back," Kaboly noted. "They think they will hear something definitely before the Draft. Trust me, he’s coming back, so don’t overthink this."

While he is 42 years of age, Rodgers would give the Steelers the best chance at winning in 2026. Depending on how you look at it, that might not be the best thing for the franchise, but ownership has been very clear about not wasting even a season to rebuild. A quarterback grouping of Howard, Rudolph and Rush almost certainly signals the team's acceptance of a down year.

Steelers' 2026 Offseason Moves Signal That A Rodgers Return Is Coming

Pittsburgh didn't spend as if it wanted to take a season off. All of the moves made by the front office seem to suggest that Rush won't be competing for a starting quarterback job in 2026. On top of that, no one should get the sense that anyone other than Rodgers will be under center. The process may be getting dragged out. However, this is pretty typical for the future Hall of Famer. Fans should get some legitimate answers in the coming weeks.

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