Pittsburgh Steelers QB Crisis: Aaron Rodgers Still Silent, Kirk Cousins Is Plan B, and Will Howard Waits in the Wings
Pittsburgh is living its quarterback nightmare for the third consecutive offseason. Aaron Rodgers — 42 years old, a free agent, and infuriatingly non-committal — has given the Steelers no contract answer, no timeline, and no indication of his plans. The league year opens at 4:00 PM ET Wednesday. New head coach Mike McCarthy needs a quarterback. And the name emerging as Plan B is one the fan base dreads.
Aaron Rodgers: No Offer, No Deadline, No Decision
Rodgers made his position clear before the regular season ended. "Whenever the season ends, I'll be a free agent, so that will give me a lot of options if I still want to play. I mean, not a lot of options, but there'll be options, I would think maybe one or two if I decide I still want to play," he told local media, laughing in his answer.
Rodgers says he doesn't have a contract offer, nor a deadline to make a decision on his future. The Steelers have said they don't expect the situation to drag out like last season. That is an organizational wish, not a guarantee. Last year he waited until June 5 to sign. Pittsburgh went 10-7 with him in 2025, won the AFC North, and fell to the Houston Texans in the wild-card round. The window for a championship push is not unlimited — and neither is McCarthy's patience.
The Steelers already missed out on Malik Willis, who signed a three-year contract with the Miami Dolphins within hours of free agency opening Monday. The market is moving without them.
Kirk Cousins: Plan B, Veteran Minimum, and Fan Fury
NFL insider Jason La Canfora reported that Kirk Cousins "is among the top options for Pittsburgh if Rodgers is not back, according to league sources."
The financial case is simple. Cousins, without a starting gig in 2026, could be signed for almost nothing — potentially veteran minimum. The Atlanta Falcons have already moved on, agreeing with Tua Tagovailoa to replace him. Cousins went 5-3 for Atlanta late in 2025, completing just under 62% of his passes for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions after stepping in for the injured Michael Penix Jr.
La Canfora explained the fit: "Cousins can still excel throwing the deep ball and has been a stalwart in play action under center in his career — a staple for Pittsburgh offenses and something that would mesh well with new coach Mike McCarthy's offense."
The Steelers were "not interested" in Tua Tagovailoa, per La Canfora. The fan reaction to the Cousins report has been immediate and hostile — the Steelers subreddit and X are flooded with frustration from a base that watched Wilson, Fields, and Rodgers cycle through in rapid succession.
Adam Schefter's Read: Cousins Isn't Rushing to Pittsburgh Either
ESPN's Adam Schefter offered a cooler take. "Kirk Cousins will be released tomorrow by 4pm Eastern. At that time, he'll become a free agent. It doesn't sound like he's in any rush to make a decision," Schefter said Tuesday on the Pat McAfee Show. "Could I see Kirk Cousins come into play as a potential option for the Steelers if Aaron Rodgers decided not to come back? Definitely at that point. Do I think he's rushing into anything right now? Doesn't sound that way."
The point is significant. Cousins holds leverage. He has made more money than almost any quarterback in history and has no reason to accept the first offer extended to him. If the Vikings pursue him over Kyler Murray, Pittsburgh loses its fallback before it ever locks it in.
Will Howard: The Third Option the Organization Actually Believes In
Pittsburgh would ideally pair a proven veteran starter with Howard, who they believe improved significantly in his first year as a pro after being selected in the sixth round, and has potential starting upside but needs more time to develop.
Even Rodgers spoke highly of Howard during his appearance on the Pat McAfee Show. McCarthy has been effusive about the 23-year-old all offseason — language that suggests Howard is viewed as the 2027 starter regardless of who starts in 2026.
The two realistic paths are clear: Rodgers returns under a short-term deal and Pittsburgh competes now, or Howard gets a full training camp as the starter and the Steelers tank toward a better quarterback class in the 2027 Draft. Kirk Cousins as a bridge between those two outcomes is the compromise nobody in Pittsburgh asked for — and one that may yet happen anyway.
