Everything just changed in Pittsburgh. If you’re asking who is the quarterback for Pittsburgh Steelers, the answer depends entirely on whether you’re looking at the roster today or trying to figure out who’s taking the first snap next season. Right now, as of January 2026, the Steelers are in the middle of a total identity crisis.
For the 2025 season, the guy was Aaron Rodgers. Yeah, that actually happened. After the whole Russell Wilson and Justin Fields experiment didn't exactly set the world on fire in 2024, the Steelers swung for the fences and brought in the 42-year-old legend. He led them to a 10-7 record and an AFC North title, but things just got messy.
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The Aaron Rodgers Situation: Is He Actually Staying?
Honestly, probably not.
The biggest bombshell of the week wasn't even about a player; it was Mike Tomlin stepping down as head coach after 19 seasons. Rodgers came to Pittsburgh specifically to play for Tomlin. Now that Tomlin is gone, NFL insiders like Ian Rapoport are basically saying Rodgers is as good as gone, too.
He finished the 2025 season with some decent numbers: 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns. But his last pass was a brutal pick-six in a 30-6 playoff loss to the Houston Texans. If that’s how he goes out, it’s a tough way to end a Hall of Fame career. While he hasn't officially retired, the consensus in the Steel City is that he won’t be back for 2026.
Who Else is on the Depth Chart?
If you look at the official roster right this second, there are a couple of names behind Rodgers, though neither makes the average Yinzer feel particularly safe.
- Mason Rudolph: The ultimate survivor. He’s back for his second stint after a year with the Titans. He’s the steady hand, the guy who knows the building. He even filled in for a bit this year when Rodgers hurt his wrist, but the front office clearly sees him as a high-end backup, not the franchise savior.
- Will Howard: The rookie from Ohio State. He was a sixth-round pick in 2025, and while he won a national title in college, he spent most of this season as the "emergency" third-stringer. Some fans want to see what he’s got, but most scouts think his ceiling is a solid backup.
The Missing Names: Where are Wilson and Fields?
You might still be thinking of Russell Wilson or Justin Fields. They’re gone. The Steelers moved on from both before the 2025 season started. Wilson ended up with the Giants (and then got benched for a rookie), and Fields headed to the Jets.
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It’s wild how fast the NFL moves. Two years ago, people thought Fields was the future of the franchise. Now, he’s just a footnote in the team’s search for a Ben Roethlisberger replacement.
Why the 2026 Quarterback Search is a Nightmare
Pittsburgh is currently in a "no man's land." They’re too good to get a top-five draft pick but not stable enough to just "plug and play" a veteran.
The 2026 draft class is reportedly pretty weak for quarterbacks. Unless they trade the farm to move up for someone like Fernando Mendoza, they might be stuck looking at the scrap heap again. There is some chatter about Malik Willis, who had a monster game for the Packers recently, but that feels like a gamble.
Then there’s the "Tank for Arch" theory. Some local analysts, like Mark Madden, are unironically suggesting the Steelers should just play the kid (Will Howard), lose a bunch of games, and try to draft Arch Manning in 2027. It’s a bold strategy. It’s also very "un-Steelers."
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What Happens Next for the Steelers QB Room
The team is currently interviewing for a new head coach. Names like Brian Flores and Nate Scheelhaase are floating around. Whoever gets the job gets to decide the future of the position.
If they hire a defensive-minded coach, expect a boring, safe veteran signing. If they go with a young offensive mind, they might actually take a shot on a rookie.
Here is what you need to watch over the next few weeks:
- The Rodgers Retirement Announcement: If he retires, the Steelers save some cap space but lose their only elite playmaker.
- Free Agency (March 9): Keep an eye on names like Malik Willis or even a reunion with a mid-tier vet.
- The NFL Combine: If the Steelers don't sign a vet, they’ll be scouting every quarterback in Indianapolis like their lives depend on it.
Basically, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback situation is a "to be continued" story. Rodgers is the name on the door for now, but the locks are being changed. It’s going to be a long, loud offseason in Pittsburgh.
Check the official NFL transactions wire starting in March for confirmed roster moves involving the Steelers' quarterback position.