Steelers Quarterback Options For 2026

The Pittsburgh Steelers enter one of their most intriguing off-seasons in years. The franchise finally moved on from long-tenured head coach Mike Tomlin. That decision signals a full reset in Pittsburgh. It also likely ends Arthur Smith’s time as offensive coordinator with defensive coordinator Terrell Austin potentially right behind. Now, the Steelers must rebuild the coaching staff while solving the biggest issue in the building. Who starts at quarterback? Steelers quarterback options for 2026 will be a hot topic surrounding the team this upcoming offseason.

Who Will Be the Steelers Quarterback Next Year?

Steelers Don’t Want to Rebuild

The Steelers still have a strong roster. They have talent on both sides of the ball and have pieces that can win now. The only missing ingredient remains the same. Pittsburgh still has not found a franchise quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger retired. Finding one in the NFL is brutal. The organization also refuses to “tank” for a better draft pick. They rarely chase a top-five draft pick on purpose.

Steelers president Art Rooney II confirmed this philosophy of contending each year vs. having a rebuilding season: “I’m not sure why you waste a year of your life not trying to contend. … You put yourself in a position to contend every year. Some years you have the horses, some years you don’t.”  That leaves three clear directions: free agency, the draft, or a trade.

Free Agency

Free agency offers very limited answers. The top names include Aaron Rodgers and Daniel Jones. Rodgers’ return remains realistic. The Steelers players and organization respected his leadership last season. Players openly praised his command of the locker room. He also played efficient football, even without elite weapons outside of DK Metcalf. Arthur Smith also failed to maximize the passing game. He barely involved receivers consistently. He also did not feature Pat Freiermuth enough despite being a tight-end-friendly coordinator. With a new offensive system, Rodgers could look even better. Still, Tomlin drove Rodgers’ decision to come to Pittsburgh. With Tomlin gone, Rodgers may not want another season in Pittsburgh. That uncertainty puts the Steelers in a tough spot.

Daniel Jones could possibly be another option. The Colts may not bring him back. Before his Achilles injury, he played strong football and stabilized their offense. After he went down, the Colts collapsed. Jones offers mobility and upside, but he does not feel like a long-term solution coming off an Achilles injury.

One more name matters: Malik Willis