Steelers linked to $230 million quarterback because of old Mike McCarthy quote

Mike Moraitis

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Steelers linked to $230 million quarterback because of old Mike McCarthy quote image

The Pittsburgh Steelers need to make a move at quarterback in 2026, and until that happens, rumors and speculation will run rampant.

Of course, the future of Aaron Rodgers remains murky. It isn't clear if he'll retire, play for another team, or return to the Steelers for another season.

As we continue to wait for his decision, an old quote from new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy has grabbed the attention of some fans because it's about a quarterback who could be an option for Pittsburgh in 2026.

That quote is about Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, who McCarthy heaped praise on before his Dallas Cowboys took on the Cardinals in 2020.

"Obviously he can make any throw, he can hit all the quadrants of the field, and he's leading the league in rushing as quarterbacks," McCarthy told ESPN's Todd Archer. "So I think that in itself tells you the stress that he puts on your defense.... He's a dynamic player and he's definitely the centerpiece of that offense."

This single quote has led many to wonder if the Steelers might target Murray.

We would say taking a five-plus-year-old quote from McCarthy and pinpointing Murray as a likely target because of it is a stretch.

After all, a lot has changed since then and McCarthy's opinion on Murray may not be as high as it once was, just like pretty much everyone else on the planet.

When McCarthy made that comment, Murray was in his second season and was coming off an impressive rookie campaign, which had his stock sky high.

Since then, Murray's career can definitely be classified as a disappointment. Not only has he been plagued by injury, but his level of play hasn't been that great.

In fact, Murray was about to get straight up benched for Jacoby Brissett in 2025 before he got hurt. Anyone with eyes could see Brissett had more success with Arizona's offense, which was a terrible look for the former No. 1 pick.

McCarthy quote aside, we still think there's a chance for Murray to land in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers are going to opt for a veteran starter at the position since it's clear they have no intention of rebuilding and will once again try and compete with their veteran roster.

While McCarthy might like Will Howard, there is no way the Steelers are going to simply hand him the keys to the offense, and the same can be said for Mason Rudolph, who is a good backup but not a starting-caliber quarterback.

Meanwhile, Murray's future in Arizona is extremely murky.

In fact, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter back in November, the expectation is that the two sides will indeed part ways. If the Cardinals do decide to cut ties, it's going to be via trade.

While that seems like a daunting task with Murray's massive $230 million contract, and with his coming off a down season, it's worth noting that he does not have any guaranteed money left on the deal after 2026.

Say what you want about Murray's career up until this point, we still believe the Steelers will at least explore the option of adding him via trade, but not because Mike McCarthy really liked him five years ago.

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