The Pittsburgh Steelers have attempted to fix the quarterback position each offseason since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger following the 2021 season. Unfortunately, everything this team has tried over the past four years has fallen short.
Former general manager Kevin Colbert took a first-round swing on Pitt QB Kenny Pickett, but he quickly fell out of favor. Meanwhile, the in-house option, Mason Rudolph, only proved to be good for a few games over the years, while the collection of free agents like Mitch Trubisky, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, and Aaron Rodgers has underwhelmed.
Though GM Omar Khan will want to take his big quarterback swing in the draft, the Steelers may still be eyeing a bridge quarterback for the 2026 season—especially if head coach Mike Tomlin returns. And their top option up for grabs already looks painfully obvious.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could target QB Kyler Murray during the 2026 offseason
On December 5, NFL Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed that the team intended to shut down Kyler Murray for the remainder of the season. This didn't come as a big surprise, as Murray was on injured reserve with a foot injury.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals had little incentive to bring him back. Backup QB Jacoby Brissett has been the starter since Week 6, and the team found more success and sustained drives on offense after Brissett took over.
Following the news that he would be out for the season, NFL Insider Adam Schefter was quick to question where Murray might end up next. Pittsburgh is a possible destination.
Murray is the type of high-profile veteran quarterback Coach Tomlin has been drawn to. Mitch Trubisky, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, and Aaron Rodgers were each notable starting quarterbacks who were either first-round picks or Pro Bowlers before coming to Pittsburgh. Like Pittsburgh's recent bridge QBs, he at least offers a respectable combination of starting experience and arm talent.
Though what the Steelers have been doing at quarterback hasn't been working, we know that Tomlin isn't going to entrust a rookie to the starting job from the gate. Even if Pittsburgh trades up in the draft for a QB, Tomlin will still want to have a veteran who can come in as a bridge quarterback between Rodgers and a rookie draft pick—someone who can lead the offense until the rookie QB is ready to take over.
Like it or not, this could be Kyler Murray.
Tomlin has been vocal about valuing athletic traits at the quarterback position, and he witnessed a 42-year-old Rodgers' lack of rushing ability and play-extension ability firsthand in 2025. While Murray is much shorter than the quarterbacks the Steelers have gone with (just 5'10''), he has a strong arm and the ability to extend the play.
The Arizona Cardinals handed Murray a five-year, $230.5 million contract during the 2022 offseason, via Over The Cap, and he still has three years remaining on his deal. By trading him in 2026, the Cardinals would save $35.3 million, while absorbing $17.9 million in a dead money hit.
Because of his struggles and inability to stay on the field, Murray wouldn't fetch much for the Cardinals in terms of draft capital. The 2019 first overall pick has a base salary of over $22.8 million for the 2026 season, so to get a team to eat the remaining years of his contract, Murray could likely be dealt for a future Day 2 pick.
At this point, it's clear that the Cardinals want a fresh start. The Pittsburgh Steelers will look for veteran help at the quarterback position during the 2026 offseason, and Kyler Murray could be their top choice of the names available.