"It’s An Indictment Against The Steelers Organization": Stephen A Smith Absolutely Blasts Decisions Being Made In Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ ongoing search for stability at quarterback has once again become a major talking point across the NFL world. With uncertainty still lingering around the position, the franchise has found itself at the center of scrutiny as fans and analysts debate whether the organization has done enough to secure a long-term answer. The conversation has only intensified as Aaron Rodgers continues to delay his decision. Steelers General Manager Omar Khan took over in 2022, but has still not found the long-term answer at QB since Ben Roethlisberger retired.

Many pundits have debated how good or bad a job Khan has done in his tenure as the GM in Pittsburgh. That debate took on a new level of visibility after ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith weighed in with strong criticism aimed at Khan and the team’s overall approach to the quarterback position. Smith’s comments, made during First Take, quickly spread across social media and reignited questions about Pittsburgh’s decision-making since the departure of Roethlisberger. His remarks framed the situation as more than just roster construction, but as a broader organizational failure to solve its most important position.

As speculation continues around potential short-term fixes and veteran options, including ongoing chatter tied to Rodgers, the Steelers remain under the microscope. The tension between pursuing a proven name versus building a sustainable long-term plan has created a divide among analysts and fans alike. With the debate now amplified by one of the most outspoken voices in sports media, Pittsburgh’s quarterback dilemma has become one of the league’s most talked-about storylines.

"It’s an indictment against the Steelers organization," Smith said while speaking on First Take on Wednesday. "Aaron Rodgers is going to be 43 years of age in December. I love him, and he’s a future Hall of Famer. I appreciate the greatness we have seen throughout the years and he wasn’t bad last year. He wasn’t bad at all, but he’s not the Aaron Rodgers he used to be. This is not Tom Brady, and this is not LeBron James. Aaron Rodgers has not won in quite a while. Before he went to the New York Jets, before ending up with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was losing playoff games at Lambeau Field in Green Bay."

The Steelers drafted QB Drew Allar out of Penn State with the 76th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. They also got QB Will Howard out of Ohio State in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. 

That does give Khan and McCarthy two long-term potential options with some upside, though neither are guarantees. Smith believes the Steelers front office has not been doing a good job here, and many would agree with him.

"When I see the situation again, fine, go ahead and do it, but the real indictment is against the Steelers organization," Smith said. "The Steelers cannot find a quarterback to save their da** life. That is why they're doing all of this, sitting around, going the geriatric route, waiting for Aaron Rodgers to say, ‘Yes, I'll play for you.’ That is how desperate they are, and it’s a da** shame they are in this situation because it shows a dereliction of duty on a part of this organization that they have not been able to find a QB all these years since Ben Roethlisberger retired."

While Pittsburgh waits on Rodgers, the excitement turns toward Allar and Howard. Both are options, but not many have a ton of faith that either will develop into reliable NFL starters. However, it seems like both will get a chance, especially if Rodgers decides he does not want to play in 2026.

Steelers Fans Must Wait To Grade Omar Khan's Tenure As A GM

Khan has now had a few seasons to figure things out and, to his credit, he has kept the Steelers’ heads above water. But the quarterback position remains a long-term concern. 

Until he solves that issue, his tenure as general manager will be difficult to fully judge.

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