The Pittsburgh Steelers have been in a difficult situation when it comes to the quarterback position, and that has been the case for the better part of the decade. It has been a revolving door at the position and the organization is desperate to find some stability. Thankfully, Aaron Rodgers is returning as the starter for the 2026 season, which marks the first time the Week 1 starting quarterback has been the same in Pittsburgh since the 2020-2021 seasons. That is a step in the right direction, but he is 42-years-old and has already announced that he will be retiring after the 2026 season.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers QBs Aaron Rodgers, Will Howard, Mason Rudolph, and Drew Allar throw the ball in the 2026 offseason.
The 2027 starting job in Pittsburgh is up for grabs, and currently the only quarterbacks under contract for next season are Will Howard and Drew Allar. Allar will definitely be on the team, while Howard has to worry about making the roster this year in order to have a shot at the job in 2027. The fan base is consumed with the franchise finding the quarterback of the future as it feels like it's impossible to be legitimately competitive without a franchise player at the position. Allar looked promising in his first preseason action against the Green Bay Packers, while Howard looked good as well.
Beat writer Mark Kaboly spoke about the quarterback situation on a recent episode of his show Kaboly + Mack, and he spoke about how the organization feels about the young quarterbacks while also hinting at a return to Pittsburgh for Mason Rudolph in 2027.
"Honestly, I think they've got a good grasp on what Howard can do," Kaboly said. "I do. I guess you can approve, he's not had many reps or anything like that, but I think they view him as a long-term two. Allar as a potential one. I think that's how they view them. I mean Mason, I know you don't want to hear this, but maybe he comes back for another year just as a bridge."
Kaboly believes the organization thinks of Howard as a backup while Allar could be a potential starter, which most fans would probably be happy with going into the 2027 season. However, Kaboly seems to think there is a chance that Rudolph could be back on the roster as a bridge quarterback while the young guys get more comfortable.
Barry Reeger / Imagn Images
Steelers' Mason Rudolph warms up prior to the preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers in 2026.
Rudolph is in the final year of his current deal, and the return Kaboly speaks of would be on a new contract as a bridge quarterback. This means he would probably begin the 2027 season as the starter, with the idea being that he would eventually be replaced by Allar. This would make some sense even though it would probably upset fans.
If the season goes the way the organization wants it to in 2026, neither Howard nor Allar will see the field. That means both would have zero actual game experience going into the 2027 season when both could be playing legitimate snaps. That would be the justification for bringing back an experienced quarterback like Rudolph to potentially start a few games.
Steelers Should Move With Caution In Bringing Mason Rudolph Back
Rudolph is entering his eighth season with the Steelers, but he did spend the 2024 season with the Tennessee Titans. This was after he had a heroic end to the 2023 season in Pittsburgh as he led the Steelers to the playoffs. He signed with Tennessee and had the opportunity to start a good number of games, but things did not go well with the Titans. He returned to Pittsburgh on a two-year deal shortly after. He has shown time and time again that he cannot be a consistent starter in this league, which is exactly why bringing him back in 2027 is something to be careful about.
Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X (@brogannoey) and consider following for more Steelers-related content and discussion. I’m always open to hearing different perspectives, breaking down games, and talking all things Pittsburgh football.
#SteelerNation