Steelers News: Malik Willis prediction grows as Aaron Rodgers decision stays unclear

As of Monday at 9: 10 a. m. ET, steelers news is centered on Pittsburgh’s quarterback outlook for 2026: the Steelers are back in the market, and Aaron Rodgers remains non-committal about his future. What’s unresolved is whether Rodgers plays in 2026 at all—and, if he does not, whether Pittsburgh moves early in free agency to sign Malik Willis or pivots to another available quarterback.

Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2026 quarterback depth chart is already set—and limited

The confirmed starting point is the Steelers’ contract situation at quarterback for 2026. Pittsburgh has only two quarterbacks under contract for 2026: Mason Rudolph and Will Howard. That contract reality places the team in the quarterback market “once again, ” with the immediate implication that Pittsburgh must add to the room if it wants more than two under-contract options next year.

Still, the team’s ultimate direction is not confirmed as of 9: 10 a. m. ET. Rodgers’ status is a key variable because he remains non-committal about his future. One account of Rodgers’ comments said he kept his future a mystery while also saying he continues to work out; the same account stated that no contract has been offered by the Steelers and no deadline to make a decision has been set. Those are confirmed statements within the provided coverage, but they do not settle whether Rodgers intends to play in 2026.

Malik Willis is the specific quarterback Pittsburgh is predicted to sign

A clear prediction has emerged in the latest coverage: Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports predicts the Steelers will not have Rodgers under center in 2026 and will sign free agent quarterback Malik Willis, described as a former Green Bay Packers quarterback. That prediction is not confirmed; it is a forecast about what Pittsburgh will do, and it hinges on Rodgers’ unresolved decision.

The coverage lays out what Willis has recently put on tape and the broader case that could make him attractive to quarterback-needy teams. In one described 2025 start, Willis completed 85. 7% of his passes for 288 yards and a touchdown, while adding 60 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns against Baltimore. Over the last two seasons, he is described as completing 70 of 89 pass attempts, and adding three rushing touchdowns. The same coverage also describes him as having appeared in 22 games with 1, 322 yards and six touchdowns across his career, after entering the NFL in 2022 and spending two seasons with the Tennessee Titans and two years with the Packers.

Yet even with a specific name attached to the projection, the key decision points remain unsettled. The Steelers’ actual level of interest in Willis is unconfirmed as of 9: 10 a. m. ET, and the same is true for whether Pittsburgh prefers him over other quarterback paths. The coverage notes other notable names in the free agency class, including the recently released Kyler Murray and Geno Smith, as well as Willis. No confirmed Steelers action is described toward any of those players in the provided material.

Aaron Rodgers’ timing and the March 11 league-year marker are the near-term triggers

The uncertainty isn’t just about which quarterback the Steelers ultimately choose; it’s also about timing. One account emphasizes that Pittsburgh “should clearly understand what Rodgers plans to do before the new league year begins on March 11” in order to preserve flexibility in free agency. Another account says it is highly unlikely the Steelers will “sit and wait until June” as they did in 2025, because waiting risks missing other available quarterbacks.

Those statements frame the measurable triggers that would clarify the picture without requiring any guesswork. A definitive Rodgers decision would resolve the biggest unknown: if Rodgers publicly commits to playing in 2026, Pittsburgh’s offseason approach at quarterback would be expected to look different than if he retires. Conversely, if Rodgers retires, Pittsburgh would be expected to shift its resources to alternatives like Willis or other notable free agents mentioned in the coverage.

For now, multiple points remain unconfirmed as of 9: 10 a. m. ET:

• whether Rodgers will play in 2026 or retire
• whether the Steelers will offer Rodgers a contract
• whether the Steelers have set any internal deadline for Rodgers’ decision
• whether Pittsburgh will prioritize Malik Willis over other quarterback options

Still, the near-term calendar is the practical pressure point cited in the coverage. March 11 is identified as the league-year marker Pittsburgh should have clarity by, and the coverage also highlights the risk of waiting too long while other quarterbacks are available.

The next concrete development that would move this steelers news forward is a confirmed Rodgers decision communicated publicly, or a confirmed Steelers quarterback signing once free agency begins. If Rodgers’ retirement is confirmed before March 11, Pittsburgh is expected to pursue another quarterback option immediately rather than waiting into June.