The most pressing question facing new head coach Mike McCarthy and the Pittsburgh Steelers front office is the future of the quarterback position. The one-year, prove-it deal for future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers has officially expired, making him an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins. While there is reported interest from within the player locker room for Rodgers' return, no contract negotiations have been disclosed, leaving his status in serious doubt. Rodgers' 2025 season was a mixed bag, showing flashes of elite play but ultimately ending with a stifled offensive performance in the Wild Card loss to Houston.
Currently, the only quarterbacks under contract for the 2026 season are veteran Mason Rudolph and 2025 sixth-round draft pick Will Howard. Rudolph, who has spent the majority of his career with Pittsburgh, provides experienced depth but is not viewed as a definitive long-term starter. The wild card is Will Howard. The rookie from last year's draft spent his first season developing, and Coach McCarthy has already spoken positively about his potential and athletic upside. The Steelers hold a mid-first round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, which will be hosted in Pittsburgh, making a selection of a top quarterback prospect a distinct possibility. The offseason plan will crystallize around this decision: pursue a veteran like Rodgers in free agency, commit to a competition between Rudolph and Howard, or use premium draft capital to select the franchise's next signal-caller. The direction chosen will define the early years of the McCarthy regime.