For the first time in nearly two decades, the Pittsburgh Steelers are staring down a new chapter. After 19 seasons at the helm, Mike Tomlin has decided to step away from the organization following the team’s Wild Card loss to the Houston Texans. That announcement marks a seismic shift for a franchise known for its coaching stability - and it opens the door to a full-scale reset, potentially starting at the quarterback position.
One name that’s already being floated in connection with Pittsburgh’s future is Ty Simpson. The redshirt junior out of Alabama has started to gain traction as a potential first-round target, and according to Colin Cowherd, the Steelers should seriously consider making a move to get him.
“If you’re Pittsburgh with all these picks… you give out about six of them to get Ty Simpson in the first round,” Cowherd said. “They have seven draft picks in the first four rounds.
The Steelers have ammo. Go get Ty Simpson.
You don’t have to move up 25 spots. Move up 10.”
That suggestion isn’t coming out of thin air. With Oregon’s Dante Moore returning to school and Aaron Rodgers widely expected to retire after 21 seasons - including his latest stint in Pittsburgh - the quarterback landscape in this draft is shifting. The Steelers find themselves in a unique position: armed with draft capital, uncertain at quarterback, and entering a new era without Tomlin at the controls.
Simpson, despite limited starting experience at Alabama - just 15 games - has the tools that intrigue NFL evaluators. He’s athletic, poised, and has the kind of arm talent that can shine in the right system. His pre-draft process will be critical, but early buzz suggests he’s impressing the right people at the right time.
If Pittsburgh does decide to kick the tires, it wouldn’t be out of character. Since 2000, the Steelers have only drafted six quarterbacks, and few have been viewed as long-term solutions. With no clear-cut starter behind Rodgers and the team in transition, Simpson could be a logical fit - especially if the front office wants to pair a young passer with a veteran presence, even if Rodgers hangs around for another season.
For Simpson, landing in a stable organization with a track record of developing talent would be an ideal scenario. Pittsburgh offers that - along with a strong defense, a physical identity, and a fanbase that knows what it means to build through the draft.
This year’s quarterback class isn’t loaded with surefire stars, but that might work in Simpson’s favor. In a thinner group, teams could take a harder look at upside, projection, and fit. That’s where Simpson’s name starts to rise.
Whether or not the Steelers make a move remains to be seen. But with a new era dawning in Pittsburgh, and the quarterback position wide open, don’t be surprised if Ty Simpson becomes a central figure in their draft-day plans.