The Pittsburgh Steelers knew the Aaron Rodgers experiment would be a fairly short one, regardless of how well it turned out.
Rodgers said before the 2025 season that he anticipated retiring at the end of his one-year deal with the Steelers, though he stopped short of making a final decision. While the door could be open for a return, Pittsburgh will have to start thinking about other options as long as the decision is still pending.
Finding a capable starting quarterback isn’t easy. The Steelers know that as well as just about any team after bouncing from quarterback to quarterback following Ben Roethlisberger's retirement. Who could be next if Rodgers retires?
Here’s a look at six quarterback options to potentially replace Rodgers in 2026.
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6. Mac Jones
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Mac Jones isn’t set to be a free agent after this season, which is a credit to San Francisco 49ers GM John Lynch. The most likely scenario for Jones is one more year as a well-paid backup to Brock Purdy, but could it be in everyone’s best interest to capitalize on his success and execute a trade? Lynch likes draft picks, and the 49ers could get a decent one for Jones after he threw for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions in eight starts in place of Purdy. If the Steelers desperately need a solution, they could try calling up the 49ers.
5. Daniel Jones
Reports indicate a reunion between Daniel Jones and the Indianapolis Colts is likely, even after an Achilles tear threw a wrench into the breakout quarterback’s free agency plans. Unless the franchise tag is used, however, teams will still have a chance to make their pitch to Jones. Is he someone the Steelers would be interested in? Jones has his limitations, but he proved he could thrive in the right system in 2025 and brings some mobility to the table — Achilles recovery pending — after Pittsburgh lost that element with Rodgers. If the Colts plan on paying a high price to hold onto Jones, the Steelers may not be willing to match.
4. Kirk Cousins
After a late-season run as a starter in place of the injured Michael Penix Jr., Kirk Cousins will undoubtedly be looking to start again. This time around, it will be easier for the Atlanta Falcons to move on from him through a trade or release. It would be hard to claim that going from Rodgers to Cousins is anything more than a lateral move for the Steelers, but if Rodgers retires, Pittsburgh's options are naturally going to be limited. Cousins could offer another steady hand to guide the offense, even if the Steelers' ceiling would likely be limited with a 38-year-old quarterback.
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3. Ty Simpson
The Steelers won’t be picking near the top of the draft, which has been the story of the last four years since they first had to start searching for successors to Ben Roethlisberger. Plenty can change between now and April, but that likely means Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore will be out of Pittsburgh’s reach. Could Ty Simpson be a more likely target? The Alabama quarterback isn’t a surefire top-10 pick and could slide to the mid-to-late first round, where the Steelers will have a need at the position even if Rodgers decides to play one more season.
2. Malik Willis
The Steelers’ offense looked fairly decent in Justin Fields’ stint as the starter in place of Russell Wilson. What if Pittsburgh went back to the well with a highly mobile quarterback who has room to grow as a passer? Willis has impressed in limited time as Jordan Love’s backup in Green Bay, totaling eight touchdowns without an interception in three starts. He completed 30-of-35 passes in place of Love between Weeks 16 and 17 and looked confident throwing the ball. Willis is a free agent after the season, so the Steelers would be free to sign him without surrendering any draft picks.
1. Kyler Murray
Kyler Murray is likely to be on the move in the offseason, with the Arizona Cardinals ready to move on. The Steelers could be a natural fit, and Murray is someone who at least would have the chance to be a multi-year starter in Pittsburgh. The former No. 1 pick never put it all together in Arizona, emerging as a capable starter but struggling to take that next step as a consistent Pro-Bowler. Still, with a 2-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio in his career and plenty of mobility, Murray could be dynamic enough to upgrade Pittsburgh's quarterback room.