Once again, it is time for the Pittsburgh Steelers to play the worst game in the NFL, called needing a quarterback. At this point, every option is on the table. They could run it back with Aaron Rodgers, draft someone, sign a free agent, or just roll with Will Howard. Since Art Rooney II shot down any chance of an attempted tank, there is only one answer to the Steelers’ problem heading into 2026. If he’s willing to run it back, Rodgers should be this team’s quarterback again next season.
At 42 years old, Rodgers is far from the perfect quarterback, but when he’s stacked against the available options, it’s clear that he is the best one. Everybody is obsessed with Malik Willis, but he might be a beneficiary of Matt LaFleur’s offense. Kyler Murray might not survive in the AFC North. Mac Jones isn’t inspiring. Tua Tagovailoa is an easy no. Hate him if you want, but Rodgers is the best option in 2026 for a team that wants to win. They might be screwed either way, but Rodgers makes it the most fun.
In the twilight of his football life, Rodgers showed us that the arm still has juice. The old man can still spin it. Last season, he had more passing yards than Jalen Hurts and C.J. Stroud. Rodgers also had more passing touchdowns than Patrick Mahomes and his old understudy, Jordan Love. The old gunslinger threw fewer interceptions than Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, and MVP runner-up Drake Maye. Don’t underestimate the four-time MVP, even in his elder years.
Rodgers gets a bad rep because people don’t agree with the things he says. It’s never because of his play, unless you’re a Chicago Bears fan. Every teammate he has ever had appeared to love him, contrary to the media’s opinion. Let the shock jocks on Pittsburgh radio say what they want, but they don’t know anything about quarterback play. Most of those guys probably can’t even throw a respectable spiral. Rodgers isn’t as bad a quarterback as they like to pretend, and he should be back with the Steelers in 2026 if he wants to be.
Pittsburgh is at a point where it needs to draft the quarterback of the future, and that could be in the upcoming NFL Draft. There is nobody better suited to mentor that kid than Rodgers. He already had a big impact on Will Howard last season. Imagine what he can do for someone that the Steelers are serious about handing the keys to. As much as fans would love to see Howard get his shot, it might never happen. He’s a sixth-round pick, and Mike McCarthy didn’t draft him, but hopefully, he gets his chance to compete one day.
Fernando Mendoza is the only quarterback in this class who is ready to start on day one, and the Steelers aren’t getting him. If Pittsburgh has its sights on drafting a player such as Drew Allar, Carson Beck, or Garrett Nussmeier, then having Rodgers around for their rookie season is massive. Those guys won’t be ready to start on day one, and Rodgers will be able to be in their ear for an entire season. That’s something that could change the course of a young player’s career for the better.
Steelers fans are all business and no play so they won’t see it this way, but it would be fun to see Rodgers get his farewell tour. It would be with the man with whom he started his career, Mike McCarthy. Rodgers doesn’t seem like a farewell tour guy, but he deserves one. He’s one of the best quarterbacks to ever live. It won’t be the end of the world for Pittsburgh if he decides to roam off into retirement, but it would be nice to run it back with better weapons. He still has something left in that tank.
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