The Pittsburgh Steelers feel the best they have at quarterback in a long time this season. Not since Ben Roethlisberger retired following the 2021 campaign have they found real stability behind center. But what they have right now in Aaron Rodgers is almost certainly short-lived.
Rodgers, 42, has said multiple times that the 2025 season will likely be his last. He’s having his best year since leaving the Green Bay Packers in 2022, making up for two rough seasons with the New York Jets. After Monday night’s win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 15, Rodgers has helped guide Pittsburgh to an 8-6 record and first place in the AFC North.
The Steelers still have three games remaining, including a regular-season finale against the Baltimore Ravens that could determine their playoff fate. Should Pittsburgh reach the postseason, it would mark Rodgers’ first playoff appearance since the 2021 season. How that plays out could influence both Rodgers’ future — and the Steelers’ plans at quarterback.
If Rodgers ultimately rides off into the sunset, wilderness, cave, or wherever he feels comfortable, Pittsburgh will need to find its quarterback for 2026. That solution will most likely come via free agency or trade.
Steelers Could Be Linked to Trade With NFC Team
The Steelers are in a tough spot when it comes to finding their next quarterback. They currently hold the No. 20 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, though that could shift depending on how the season finishes. Either way, Pittsburgh is likely to land outside the top tier of the draft.
That positioning probably keeps them out of range for one of the top quarterbacks in what already looks like a thin 2026 draft class. That leaves the Steelers looking around the league for veteran options.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano floated one intriguing possibility: San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Mac Jones.
“Mac Jones is under contract with the 49ers for next year at $2.8 million, but the way he played in relief of Brock Purdy this season has people wondering what it would take to trade for him (and presumably pay him more) to come in and compete for a starting role,” Graziano said. “There are plenty of teams with unsettled 2026 quarterback situations (Colts? Steelers?) that could look to a 27-year-old former first-round pick who has been through the Kyle Shanahan career rehab program as part of their potential solution.”
Mac Jones Has Revived His Career With 49ers
If you’ve watched Mac Jones this season, he’s looked like a completely different quarterback. After going 10-7 as a rookie with the New England Patriots, Jones went 10-22 over the next three seasons, including a brief and forgettable stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
This year, he landed in arguably the best possible situation with the 49ers. In eight starts, Jones went 5-3 and helped keep San Francisco in the NFC playoff hunt. Across 10 appearances, he’s completing nearly 70% of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
What it would take for Pittsburgh to land Jones remains unclear. The Steelers will have draft capital to work with in 2026 — including three third-round picks and two fourth-rounders — but they likely won’t be alone in pursuing him.
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