There are no shortage of rumors surrounding who will be the next Steelers quarterback. Pretty much anyone QB with a pulse has been linked to Pittsburgh this offseason. Let’s narrow it down to the top seven contenders to be the Steelers starting qb in 2025:
7. Draft Pick:
It’s extremely unlikely, but we can not totally rule out the Steelers drafting a quarterback to fill their vacant signal caller role. If you have listened to the Steelers Sanctuary Podcast at all you’d know Jaxson Dart is a favorite of mine. There are a few other later round candidates, but if one were to become a starter in 2025 it would most likely be Dart. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1981237/episodes/16600325-episode-99-arron-rodgers-and-deebo-samuel-rumors
6. Kirk Cousins
In a perfect world, Kirk Cousins would be a great solution to the Steelers quarterback situation. This is far from a perfect world however. Cousins is an aging quarterback, with some serious injury history. Cousins struggled mightily in 2025. He was eventually replaced as the Falcons starter by Micheal Pennix. There’s little question the Falcons would like to move on, but the Cousins cap hit may prevent it. The Falcons would be on the hook for $65 million in dead cap if they moved him this offseason.
As far as Cousins play on the field, he recently came out in an interview saying he was dealing with several injuries in 2024. Not only was he trying to come back from major surgery from the year before, but he also injured his throwing arm early on this year. A second injury might explain how bad it looked for Kirk Cousins in 2024. At his best Cousins is a smart, accurate veteran quarterback. Exactly the kind of player you would want if you were trying to make one last run at some post season success. Injuries, and the contract make this a tough option to go with if you are the Steelers.
5. Mathew Stafford:
It seems like the Rams will move on from Mathew Stafford this offseason. Stafford is the most talented player on this list, but his injury history is what is most concerning. Putting him behind the Steelers subpar offensive line would be cruel and unusual punishment for a veteran like Stafford. It would be fun to see Mathew Stafford in black and gold for a short time, but this would not end well for him or the Steelers.
4. Russell Wilson:
Ah, the option no one wants to see. There has been plenty of reporting that the Steelers are out of the Russell Wilson business. The way the season ended, you could not blame them at all. Having said that, it should surprise nobody if Wilson is the “break glass in case of emergency” option for Omar Khan and company. Hold tight Steelers fans, this could be the guy if other names start falling.
3. Daniel Jones:
Here’s a name nobody is talking about. Daniel Jones may very well be the best quarterback in free agency all things considered. The former sixth overall pick by the Giants in 2019 got released midseason, ending up in Minnesota as a backup. He is the kind of athletic quarterback Mike Tomlin hinted he wanted in his next quarterback. Jones certainly has his detractors, but he also has people like Peyton Manning and Kevin O’Connell on his side. if he’s good enough for them, he should be good enough to be considered as the next Steelers quarterback.
2. Aaron Rodgers
I know lots of you do not like this whatsoever, but in the Steelers eyes this may be their best option. Pittsburgh knows the clock is ticking with players like TJ Watt, and Cam Heyward. There chance making a deep post season run with those veterans is dwindling rapidly. Then there’s the little issue of no playoffs wins in a decade. Pressure like that can lead to some “interesting” decisions.
If by some miracle the Steelers could squeeze one more decent season out of Aaron Rodgers, they might actually be able to make a serious playoff run. Is this at all likely? Probably not. This team has made it clear that a rebuild is off the table in 2025. For better or worse, the Steelers believe they can be a contender next season. With that mind set, don’t be surprised if Aaron Rodgers is the Steelers quarterback come September. Its time for the Steelers to start thinking about the nuclear option for next season
1. Justin Fields
Most are in agreement that Justin Fields is the best option for the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback in 2025. He is only 25, with all the physical talent in the world. Fields was 4-2 as a starter before the “Lone Ranger” pulled the plug on him. What he adds to the team as a runner is a huge component to improving a very pedestrian Steelers offense. Signing Justin Fields back should be a no-brainer for this franchise.
The problem here is Justin Fields may not want to come back to Pittsburgh. There has to be some animosity towards the team for benching him. There’s also the not so small detail that Fields will be a heavily sought after free agent. You could make the argument Fields is the best free agent quarterback depending on how teams look at Sam Darnold’s late season collapse. What once looked like a cheaper option for the Steelers, could turn expensive very quickly. It’s not just the money. If a team with better weapons and a better offensive staff comes calling, that also may be more desirable to Fields. This is no slam dunk by any means. Justin Fields may be the team’s best option, but it could very well end up out of their hands once free agency hits.