Sam Darnold? Off the board. Justin Fields? He’s heading to New York. It leaves the Pittsburgh Steelers with shrinking options when it comes to their 2025 starting quarterback. And the ones who remain, let’s just say youth isn’t on their side. Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson appear to be the Steelers’ only options for Week 1. A weak free agent market coupled with an equally poor draft class leaves them with only those two moves.
Re-sign Russell Wilson and run it back, something the team said it preferred to do instead of starting fresh with an outsider. Or pivot to an even older veteran in Rodgers, arguably a better passer but almost certainly playing his final NFL season. His Hall of Fame resume is also accompanied by storylines and constant media attention and there’s no way the team would ban Rodgers from his weekly Pat McAfee Show appearances.
Mike Tomlin has routinely said he doesn’t try to control players’ personalities and what they do outside of football and he’s seemingly a fan of McAfee, appearing on the show multiple times.
Based on the latest reporting and the fact Wilson hasn’t re-signed despite clearly wanting to return, Rodgers seems to be the Steelers’ clear favorite. It would further signal Pittsburgh going all in to try and win now, hoping to squeeze one good year out of Rodgers behind a young but developing offensive line with two big-play weapons on the outside in wide receivers George Pickens and DK Metcalf. All in an effort to capitalize on a roster still featuring an ageless Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt, and Minkah Fitzpatrick before the defense ages out.
Today’s moves take a little teeth out of the Metcalf trade, though that’s also a long-term play for whomever the quarterback of 2026 and beyond will be. No matter who the Steelers tabbed to start, they were going to be at a disadvantage in an AFC featuring a deep bench of passers. But instead of being able to take their pick, the pick is being made for them. Wilson or Rodgers.
