Aaron Rodgers
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The Steelers may not be willing to wait for Aaron Rodgers to decide if he's going to play in 2026.
The Pittsburgh Steelers want Aaron Rodgers to be their quarterback in 2026, but they reportedly have a fallback option if the veteran takes his ball and goes home.
The Steelers are reportedly set to target Kirk Cousins as their quarterback and pair him with second-year Steelers backup Will Howard for a more youthful QBs room in 2026, according to Jason La Canfora of Sports Boom.
Pittsburgh, of course, went 10-7 with Rodgers as their quarterback in 2025 and won the AFC North, narrowly edging out the Baltimore Ravens. But Pittsburgh fell to the Houston Texans in the wild-card round, and of course replaced longtime head coach Mike Tomlin with veteran offensive mind Mike McCarthy this offseason.
The Steelers Aren’t Going to Wait for Aaron Rodgers
The Steelers already missed out on the chance to sign Malik Willis, who signed a three-year contract with the Miami Dolphins to be their starting quarterback within hours of free agency opening Monday.
So Pittsburgh can’t exactly afford to wait for the famously patient Rodgers to make up his mind.
“The Steelers will not be waiting nearly as long for word from veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers about his intent to play football as they did a year ago,” La Canfora reported. “The team is working to procure other options at quarterback in the meantime.
“Rodgers is notorious for taking his time and mulling his options as to whether or not he will play or retire, but the quarterback market is already beginning to fall in line in free agency, with top option Malik Willis signing with Miami at the start of free agency.”
The Steelers are Interested in Kirk Cousins
Cousins has not been the primary starter for an NFL team since the Atlanta Falcons benched him for Michael Penix Jr. late in the 2024 season. But La Canfora explained why he would be the fit in Pittsburgh over other free agent QBs.
“Cousins is a quick learner, performed much better in the second half of the season with Atlanta and is now fully recovered from an Achilles injury that marred much of his time with the Falcons,” La Canfora wrote. “Cousins can still excel throwing the deep ball and has been a stalwart in play action under center in his career, a staple for Pittsburgh offenses and something that would mesh well with new coach Mike McCarthy’s offense.”
La Canfora explained the Steelers were leery about signing Tua Tagovailoa due to his struggles in cold weather, which won’t be a problem now that he signed with Cousins’ former team, the Falcons. They also are unlikely to be able to sign Kyler Murray — who La Canfora reported is interested in going to another of Cousins’ former teams, the Minnesota Vikings.
But adding a veteran like Cousins would help Howard develop as their starter of the future, while the Steelers still try to compete for that ever-elusive seventh Super Bowl ring.
“Pittsburgh would ideally pair a proven veteran starter with Howard, who they believe improved significantly in their first year as a pro after being selected in the sixth round and has potential starting upside but needs more time to develop,” La Canfora reported.
“The Steelers remain in the mode of reaching the postseason, and continue to add assets on offense, acquiring receiver Michael Pittman from Indianapolis. Contrary to some offseason reports, the Steelers have no interest in trading DK Metcalf, whom they acquiring from Seattle a year ago, never entertained any trade talks concerning him and plan to pair him with Pittman.”