The Pittsburgh Steelers have long been expected to turn to Aaron Rodgers as their starting quarterback for the 2026 season. It's a plan that has been treated as a foregone conclusion across the football world—so much so that the team even brought in veteran coach Mike McCarthy, who shares a deep history with Rodgers from their time together in Green Bay.
But here's the thing: just because something is expected doesn't mean it's the right move. And for the Steelers, sticking with the Rodgers plan could come with two major risks that might set the franchise back.
Risk No. 1: Stunting the development of young quarterbacks
Over the past two drafts, Pittsburgh has invested in quarterback depth. In 2024, they selected Will Howard in the sixth round after he led Ohio State to a national championship. The following year, they grabbed Drew Allar from Penn State in the third round. Both players have shown flashes of NFL potential, but if Rodgers takes every snap in 2026, they'll be left watching from the sideline.
The problem? The Steelers are running out of time to figure out what they have in these young arms. With the 2027 draft class expected to be loaded with quarterback talent, Pittsburgh would ideally know whether Howard or Allar can be the future before making another big investment at the position. As ESPN's Brooke Pryor recently noted, "Allar will join 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard as developmental players vying to be Rodgers' backup—if the 42-year-old quarterback returns. If he doesn't? Then all bets are off."
Risk No. 2: The danger of being painfully average
Even if Rodgers stays healthy, there's no guarantee he'll elevate the Steelers to contender status. At 42 years old, his best days are likely behind him. A team with Rodgers under center in 2026 probably ends up somewhere near .500—good enough to avoid a top-10 draft pick, but not good enough to make a serious playoff run.
That's a dangerous middle ground. To land a franchise-altering quarterback in next year's draft, you typically need to be picking in the top five or at least the top ten. By sticking with Rodgers, the Steelers might be sacrificing their best chance to secure a long-term answer under center.
The Steelers have a decision to make: ride with the familiar name or take a hard look at the future. Sometimes the most obvious plan isn't the smartest one.