The Pittsburgh Steelers spent time and resources addressing multiple areas of need this offseason. They bolstered the wide receiver position by trading for Michael Pittman Jr. and drafting Germie Bernard in the second round. However, the Steelers still don’t have their starting quarterback locked in for 2026 yet. Will it be QB Aaron Rodgers? Or will it be someone else?
That’s the number one reason for pessimism when it comes to the Steelers for Check The Mic co-host Sam Monson.
“They still don’t actually have a quarterback, right?” Monson said Thursday on Check The Mic. “You are sitting by the phone, waiting for Aaron Rodgers to pick it up and call you. That’s almost worse than being excited by a couple good dropbacks from Deshaun Watson in minicamps… Also, it’s unclear that if and when Rodgers picks up the phone, calls you, and says ‘Hey, great news guys, I’m back,’ that that’s even a good thing.”
Well, at least Monson doesn’t think Steelers fans have it as bad as some Browns fans, looking for hope in QB Deshaun Watson’s minicamp reps. But he doesn’t think the Steelers have it a whole lot better. Just…different.
That’s not encouraging, and that’s why this episode of the Check The Mic is all about concerns and pessimism. The reality is that the Steelers don’t have their 2026 starting quarterback set in stone. We’re halfway through May. That’s not a good position to be in.
The assumption is that it will be Aaron Rodgers. On one hand, he’s a four-time NFL MVP and a Super Bowl champion. What team wouldn’t want that kind of player on paper? However, the downside is that he’s 42 years old. Those MVP days are long gone.
That’s why Monson is unsure about whether Rodgers returning for 2026 is a good thing for the Steelers. How effective can he be this season? He obviously wasn’t terrible in 2025, but he certainly didn’t make a positive impact in the Steelers’ playoff loss to the Houston Texans.
Where Rodgers can be a big benefit to the Steelers is with their young quarterbacks. Rodgers, if he stays healthy, will help the Steelers be competitive this season. That means the Steelers won’t be forced to see if either Will Howard or Drew Allar is capable of starting right now. Rodgers can also help both young quarterbacks develop in meetings and on the practice field.
However, it’s understandable to be pessimistic about the Steelers due to the situation at football’s most important position. The Steelers are essentially hitching their 2026 wagon to an almost 43-year-old Aaron Rodgers. That does not feel like a recipe for playoff success. He, along with head coach Mike McCarthy, could help Will Howard or Drew Allar take the necessary steps to be ready to start in 2027, though.
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