The Aaron Rodgers decision to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers took far longer than necessary—especially considering the elephant in the room: he had already given the team a verbal agreement to be their next quarterback.
“I just think verbally, behind the scenes, not that he guaranteed it, but he’s told [the Steelers], 'Listen, I'm gonna play for you. I just don’t want to go there and then miss part of mandatory minicamp because of my personal issues. I'm pretty sure they're gonna be solved by the end of May, at least in my satisfaction where I can give you my all,’” Ian O’Connor said.
Rodgers signing with the Steelers has stirred mixed emotions. Some believe his presence as quarterback could create tension with DK Metcalf, with concerns that the two may not complement each other well on the field.
However, Ryan Clark believes this move could be disastrous for Pittsburgh.
“Aaron Rodgers signing with the Steelers is the worse case scenario. I think he’ll play good enough, & the team will be just good enough to miss out on a franchise guy next year! One of the greatest players of the era, & one of its greatest head coaches… just years too late,” Clark said.
With Rodgers expected to be a one-year rental, the Steelers could find themselves in the same uncertain position next offseason. One name that could be in the mix to compete for the starting role is Anthony Richardson of the Indianapolis Colts. Though Richardson has faced criticism and inconsistency throughout his career, a move to Pittsburgh could provide a much-needed fresh start.
“I've never seen anyone more destined to be in the 2026 Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback competition than Anthony Richardson,” ESPN’s Kevin Clark said.
Richardson is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and if he’s looking for a change of scenery, the Steelers might be the right fit. Clark certainly believes there won’t be a better match for the team than Richardson.
