The Pittsburgh Steelers finished with a 10-7 record last season in the NFL. Pittsburgh lost to the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card Round and many changes have been made since. Mike Tomlin stepped down as head coach of the Steelers, and they hired Mike McCarthy as the next head coach of the franchise.
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Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) runs against Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith (56) and cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5) during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025.
There are more changes that will have to be made, and it might have to be at the quarterback position. It is unclear if Aaron Rodgers is going to return to the team next season or not. If he doesn’t then Will Howard might have to be the starter or they are going to have to sign or trade for someone.
NFL Analyst Suggests That the Pittsburgh Steelers Trade For San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Mac Jones
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Jan 17, 2026; Seattle, WA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones (10) rolls out against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half in an NFC Divisional Round game at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images
Moe Morton of bleacherreport.com created seven different trades that could potentially happen this offseason. One trade he could see happening is San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones being traded to the Steelers. Jones is 27 years old. Morton said,
“According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, clubs have contacted the 49ers about Jones, but their asking price is “astronomical,” which lowers the likelihood of a trade.
The Athletic’sJeff Howemade the case that San Francisco should demand a first-round pick because of Jones’ performances in Brock Purdy’s absence last season.
However, Jones hasone year lefton his contract.
Although the 49ers should aim high for a return on a former first-rounder who’s a capable starter in his prime, they may want to capitalize on Jones’ market while he has some buzz, even if proposals don’t include a Day 1 draft pick.
The Pittsburgh Steelers might be one of the teams that inquired about Jones. They will likely have to pay a steep price for him, but the 27-year-old could be a solution that keeps them out of quarterback limbo for the foreseeable future.
Even if Aaron Rodgers returns to Pittsburgh, the Steelers can sign Jones to an extension before 2027, giving them a long-term quarterback plan.”
Jones played well last season for San Francisco when Brock Purdy was injured. There is a reason why the 49ers asking price is high for him despite being a backup quarterback. He completed 69.6% of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions. If the Steelers traded for him, it would come as a surprise and it would mean that Rodgers is not coming back to Pittsburgh. However, San Francisco would probably not want to trade him this offseason even if that meant losing him for nothing next offseason.
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