The Steelers’ quarterback search is being shelved for now, but only because Aaron Rodgers is in place for a Super Bowl push. The bigger question is what happens next spring, when Pittsburgh gets back to work on finding its next starter for 2027.
At the moment, the most popular names in that conversation are Will Howard, Drew Allar, or a rookie. That feels like the most likely path, too. But the Steelers aren’t locked into that kind of outcome, because next spring could bring a different market and a different decision if the right quarterback becomes available.
That’s a major shift for this franchise. For years, this was the kind of gamble Pittsburgh couldn’t really afford to take. Over the last 19 years, the Steelers haven’t been a place where quarterback development was a strength, and Mike Tomlin also wasn’t known for finding elite offensive coordinators.
Now the setup is different.
The head coach matters most here, because this staff is built to help on offense and to work with quarterbacks. That changes the entire calculation. For the first time in two decades, Pittsburgh can honestly be viewed as a place where a quarterback might go to revive a career and find real success in a new home.
That’s why a player like CJ Stroud or Kyler Murray would make for such an interesting test case if they were available next year. Both are young, both have upside, and both have left something on the table in their NFL careers. Under Tomlin, that would have been a stressful proposition, because he’d still probably deliver a winning record without necessarily raising the quarterback’s game much.
This version of the Steelers is different. The coaching staff is expected to be a strength, especially on offense, and that opens the door wider than it used to be. Pittsburgh could now be in position to help a quarterback like Stroud reach another level.
So while a rookie or one of the team’s two current young passers may still sit near the top of the list, next spring won’t have to be limited to that group. The Steelers can keep every option on the table.
That’s the new reality in Pittsburgh: a franchise long identified with defense may now be a legitimate destination for a quarterback trying to get his career moving in the right direction.
In Other News...
Steelers Rookie Is Suddenly Crashing A Roster Battle Nobody Saw Coming
A seventh-round pick usually arrives in Pittsburgh with a long road ahead, but Robert Spears-Jennings has made enough of an impression early to get his name into the conversation. After OTAs and minicamp, an insider from The Athletic pointed to the rookie safety as a player who showed promising traits and could push for a spot on the 53-man roster in the kind of role the Steelers always seem to value, contributing on special teams while providing depth on the back end.
Spears-Jennings comes to the NFL after four seasons at Oklahoma, where he built a reputation for production and consistency across 47 games. His path is still steep, as it is for most late-round defensive backs, but the early buzz is notable because it suggests the Steelers may already be seeing more than just a developmental project as training camp approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Fans Wont Love This Surprise Trade Buzz On Defense
The Steelers are still sorting out what their defense is supposed to look like under Patrick Graham, and that includes a secondary that has already seen its share of movement. Pittsburgh brought back Asante Samuel Jr. on a one-year deal after his spinal fusion surgery, then added Jamel Dean and Jaquan Brisker to a group that is trying to mesh new pieces with the teams familiar 3-4 leanings.
Now comes the kind of chatter fans usually do not love this time of year: a Sports Illustrated report casting Samuel Jr. as a possible trade candidate. It is only speculation, but it adds another layer to a defense that is already balancing health, depth and scheme changes, with any move depending on whether Pittsburgh thinks the back end is crowded enough to justify it. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Are Already Zeroing In On A Future Defensive Anchor
The Steelers are already looking ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft as they start sorting through a middle linebacker class that could eventually shape the heart of their defense. Among the names on the radar are Auburns Xavier Atkins, Texas linebacker Biles, Indianas Rolijah Hardy and Notre Dames Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, a group that stands out for athleticism, versatility and the kind of range teams look for when theyre trying to find a long-term defensive centerpiece.
Biles is an especially interesting watch because he once played in Pittsburgh before transferring to Texas, and he arrives with a strong production track record that will keep evaluators paying attention. Hardy brings a different kind of profile, with impact plays that raise the question of how hell be deployed at the next level, while Viliamu-Asa already looks like the sort of bigger, sturdier presence that can hold up in the middle. For now, its just a scouting exercise, but it is a clear sign the Steelers are thinking about who might be next in line to anchor the defense. [Read more 🡒]