The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to be running it back in the 2026 season with Aaron Rodgers under center. The move is considered interesting because Rodgers only arrived in the black and gold during the 2025 campaign. While the result did not end in a playoff victory, meaning Pittsburgh’s postseason drought continued, Rodgers still threw for 3,322 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions while helping lead the Steelers to 10 wins and an AFC North title. It marked the franchise’s first AFC North crown since the 2020 season, so Rodgers undeniably made a significant impact.
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Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks down intense focus in street clothes as the team works out during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
However, Rodgers is now 42 years old and will turn 43 during the 2026 season. The future Hall of Famer has already indicated this upcoming year is expected to be his final season in the NFL. With Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and Drew Allar currently in the quarterback room, the future of the position still feels far from settled. Allar and Howard could eventually battle for a legitimate opportunity to become the franchise’s next starter, but many pundits remain skeptical either quarterback will develop into a reliable long-term option. At the same time, there are others who believe one of them could still take a major leap with proper development and experience.
Whether they ultimately prove capable or not remains to be seen, but what is clear is that Pittsburgh still needs a long-term answer at quarterback for 2027 and beyond. Because of that, the idea of adding another young option could become increasingly realistic following the latest developments surrounding Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby. Charles Robinson, an NFL analyst for Yahoo Sports, believes this is absolutely the kind of aggressive move Steelers General Manager Omar Khan and new head coach Mike McCarthy could consider if the opportunity continues to present itself.
"I’m going to put Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby squarely in this category because I can’t rule out that the Steelers have it in them to do something bolder than anyone expects," Robinson said. "Of course, it comes with a lot of variables and qualifications, given that Sorsby is currently under investigation by the NCAA for gambling and trying to get a temporary court injunction that would allow him to play his senior season of college football. If Sorsby can’t secure that injunction, he is expected to apply for the NFL’s supplemental draft by the league’s June 22 deadline. And if that is what unfolds, it could open up a sizable — if not extremely cautious — opportunity for the Steelers now that they know they’ll need a new starting quarterback in 2027."
Robinson articulated that after speaking with several important decision-makers around NFL franchises, many teams are extremely nervous about the Sorsby situation.
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Former Bearcats QB Brendan Sorsby looks on while walking off the field.
Teams that have spoken with Yahoo Sports reportedly view the situation as filled with uncertainty regarding the risks tied to Sorsby as a prospect. Robinson also noted that he believes if Sorsby had entered the 2026 NFL Draft under normal circumstances, Pittsburgh would have strongly considered using a first-round pick on him.
Steelers Will Wait Out Gambling Verdict On Sorsby
Obviously, how the courts rule on Sorsby’s gambling situation will play a major role in whether the Steelers even get an opportunity to pursue him through the supplemental draft. If Pittsburgh were to draft him, the franchise would secure exclusive rights to the quarterback but would also forfeit the corresponding selection in the following year’s NFL Draft.
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Brendan Sorsby wearing a Texas Tech Red Raiders hat after committing to them via the Transfer Portal.
That is exactly why Robinson believes the Steelers’ brass could be desperate enough to take such a massive swing if the opportunity presents itself. It is certainly something Steeler Nation should continue monitoring closely.
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