Andrew Buller-Russ
Last offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers realized early on that they didn’t want to bring Russell Wilson back for another season. They reportedly would have taken Justin Fields back, but it’s not hard to see why he accepted the Jets’ offer of two years and $40 million.
Now that the Steelers are coming off a playoff run with Aaron Rodgers as their starting quarterback, do they want the 42-year-old to return for another year? Or will they get to a point where they don’t want him back either, just as they did with Wilson, another former Super Bowl winner?
According to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, the Steelers have been “nosing around” the quarterback market in the early days of free agency. Garafolo’s angle from the Steelers is that the team knows they must have a “contingency plan” in place just in case there’s a surprise lurking from Rodgers.
Whether he retires or signs elsewhere, the Steelers don’t want to be left behind with just Mason Rudolph and 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard when there are so many other capable options available right now.
Hiring Mike McCarthy, a former Super Bowl-winning head coach, sends a signal that the Steelers are still trying to win right away. A QB depth chart led by Rudolph/Howard would be setting up for supreme failure, especially in a year where there aren’t many high-end options available in the draft.
Thus, whether the Steelers are serious about signing someone else before Rodgers can tell them yes/no/maybe remains to be seen. But it’s not hard to see why they at least feel compelled to consider their options.
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