Following a late-season surge that secured the Pittsburgh Steelers a division title and playoff spot in 2025, the team faces uncertainty about the quarterback role for the 2026 season. The future of Aaron Rodgers remains unclear, and the Steelers may seek a new starting quarterback to lead them moving forward, with some analysts highlighting potential surprise candidates among the top free agents this offseason. The search for an Aaron Rodgers Steelers replacement is becoming a key focus as the team plans ahead.
Potential Candidates for the Steelers’ Starting Quarterback Role
CBS Sports analyst Garrett Podell has identified the Steelers as a likely landing spot for Colts quarterback Daniel Jones. Jones had a breakout season in 2025, showcasing significant improvements before an injury ended his campaign prematurely. Podell described Jones as a “logical fit” for Pittsburgh, noting his impressive statistics including a career-high 68% completion rate, 238.5 passing yards per game, and 8.1 yards per pass attempt during his starting season with Indianapolis.
Jones was playing like an early-season NFL MVP candidate for the Indianapolis Colts before a fibula injury transformed into a torn Achilles injury in Week 14,
Podell wrote.
Jones produced career-highs in completion percentage (68%), passing yards per game (238.5) and yards per pass attempt (8.1) in his lone season starting for the Colts. … If Jones can stay healthy, he showed enough to indicate that he can be Indianapolis’ long-term starter under head coach Shane Steichen.
Another candidate Podell mentioned is Malik Willis, the former third-round pick of the Tennessee Titans who revitalized his NFL prospects while serving as a relief quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. According to Podell, Willis appears ready for a chance as a full-time starter and fits the Steelers’ potential quarterback needs.
After flaming out as a 2022 third-round pick of the Tennessee Titans and then rising again while learning from Matt LaFleur and Love in Green Bay, Willis is ready for another chance at being an NFL starting quarterback,
Podell wrote.
Uncertainty Surrounds Aaron Rodgers’ Future with the Steelers
Despite interest in these new quarterback options, the Steelers might still prefer a return from Aaron Rodgers, whose plans for the 2026 season remain undecided. ESPN reporter Adam Schefter has indicated that Rodgers could announce his decision within weeks and suggested the possibility of his return to Pittsburgh.
The belief around the league is that he’s supposed to give an answer by mid-March,
Schefter said.
The feeling is that he could be back with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
However, CBS Sports reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala expressed a more skeptical view about Rodgers reportedly being finished with his NFL career. Speaking on 93.7 The Fan, she relayed information from multiple sources close to Rodgers indicating the likelihood of no comeback is very high.
Having spoken to people who were around him, who have been around him, most everyone that I’ve spoken to who has been around him feels that the chance that he comes back to play is minuscule,
said Kinkhabwala, via Steelers Depot’s Ross McCorkle.
In conversations with people who were around him all year who were with him when he was leaving the Steelers when the season was over, all of those people that I spoke to said that it seems far more likely that he is done than that he is going to return.
Implications for the Steelers’ Quarterback Landscape in 2026
The possibility of Aaron Rodgers stepping away would leave the Steelers with important decisions regarding their quarterback future. Exploring talent like Daniel Jones or Malik Willis could provide a fresh start and maintain their competitiveness, while Rodgers’ return would offer continuity. The Steelers’ choice will shape their offensive identity and playoff ambitions, making this offseason critical for the franchise and its fans.
Aaron Rodgers’ decision about whether to return for his 22nd NFL season is expected sooner than last year and there is a belief it could come by mid March.
With @DanStanczyk:
🎧 https://t.co/QLUzfPp55h pic.twitter.com/HH8JtIDjg2
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 25, 2026
