With Aaron Rodgers' future uncertain, Pittsburgh might eye veteran Kirk Cousins. Can he bridge the gap until the Steelers find their long-term franchise quarterback?
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ presumptive starting quarterback for 2026 is Aaron Rodgers, if the tea leaves are being read correctly.
Rodgers led the Steelers to their first AFC North title this past season, their first since 2020, in his first year in Pittsburgh. By all accounts, he enjoyed playing for the Steelers and living in the city.
Of course, Rodgers is the oldest player in the NFL at 42 and has played 21 seasons. Retirement is certainly an option, even after a successful season.
The Steelers seemingly have an advantage in luring Rodgers back next season after hiring Mike McCarthy as coach to replace Mike Tomlin, who resigned after Pittsburgh lost to the Houston Texans in a Wild Card playoff game. Rodgers played for the Green Bay Packers throughout McCarthy’s 13-year tenure as their coach from 2006-18.
The Steelers have two quarterbacks under contract for next season, and neither is a clear candidate to replace Rodgers if he doesn’t come back. Mason Rudolph is a journeyman who has made 19 starts in his eight-year career. Will Howard was the Steelers’ sixth-round draft pick last year after leading Ohio State to the national championship, but has yet to play a snap in the NFL.
Yet what happens if Rodgers decides to move on? The Steelers have the 21st pick in the draft, and it seems highly unlikely that a quarterback will be available who would be ready to step into the starting lineup.
Thus, the Steelers might have to find a veteran to fill the gap, as they did with Russell Wilson and Rodgers over the last two seasons. A logical candidate would be Kirk Cousins, who lost his starting job with the Atlanta Falcons to rookie Michael Penix Jr. late in the 2024 season.
Though Cousins started the final eight games this season after Penix sustained a knee injury, the Falcons are expected to release him before the league year begins on March 11.
At 37, Cousins would not be a long-term answer for the Steelers. Yet the Falcons won five of Cousins’ eight starts in 2025, as he completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 1,721 yards and 10 touchdowns, with five interceptions. He showed occasional flashes of brilliance, such as when he threw for 373 yards and three TDs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Though he is no longer the quarterback who was selected to four Pro Bowls, Cousins could tide the Steelers over until they finally find the franchise QB they have been searching for since Ben Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 season.
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