Steelers Face Quarterback Uncertainty, but Roethlisberger Urges Patience and a Proven Blueprint
The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into the offseason with one of the most important questions in football hanging over them: Who’s going to be under center in 2026?
With the upcoming NFL Draft offering a quarterback class that’s thinner than expected, and Aaron Rodgers’ future still up in the air, Pittsburgh finds itself at a crossroads. Rodgers, who took snaps for the Steelers this past season, hasn’t made a decision about continuing his storied career. And even if he does return, there’s no guarantee it’ll be in black and gold-especially now that longtime head coach Mike Tomlin is no longer in the picture.
Enter Ben Roethlisberger, the man who once led the Steelers to two Super Bowl titles and knows a thing or two about what it takes to build a contender in Pittsburgh. Speaking on his podcast this week, Roethlisberger offered a candid take on how the franchise should approach the quarterback situation-and it’s not the route many fans might expect.
“I would not draft a quarterback for at least 2-3 years,” Roethlisberger said. “That’s just my opinion.”
It’s not about avoiding young talent, he explained. It’s about timing and structure.
Roethlisberger believes too many teams make the mistake of drafting a quarterback first, then scrambling to build a team around him. He thinks the smarter play is to flip that approach: build a strong, veteran-laden roster, then plug in a quarterback who can thrive in that environment.
“It happened to me,” he said. “I had a great football team.
They plugged me in. We had a veteran group.
It just works.”
And he’s not wrong. The Steelers went 15-1 during Roethlisberger’s rookie season.
He won all 13 games he started and was buoyed by the league’s top defense and a punishing ground game led by Jerome Bettis and Duce Staley. That kind of infrastructure gave Roethlisberger the support he needed to grow without being thrown into the fire.
Contrast that with what happened after his retirement. Since Big Ben walked away, the Steelers have cycled through six different starting quarterbacks.
Their most recent first-round gamble, Kenny Pickett, lasted just two seasons before being moved. It’s been a revolving door at the position, and the team hasn’t found a long-term answer.
Roethlisberger’s message is clear: Don’t force it. Build the team first. Then find your guy.
And if you’re looking for a name Roethlisberger thinks could be worth a look? He pointed to Will Howard, the Ohio State product who was a sixth-round pick last year. Howard hasn’t had much of a chance to prove himself yet, but Roethlisberger likes what he sees.
“I love his heart, his fire, I think he is Pittsburgh,” he said. “I think he’s tough, he’s gritty, he’s going to get you what you want. Could be completely wrong, but I think you have a guy in there.”
It’s a classic Steelers mindset-grit, toughness, and a team-first mentality. Whether Howard gets his shot or the front office goes in a different direction, the message from one of the franchise’s all-time greats is worth considering: Don’t chase a quarterback. Build a team he can thrive in.
For a franchise that prides itself on stability and tradition, Roethlisberger’s words may carry more weight than ever.