With the 2025 NFL season winding down, Pittsburgh Steelers fans are already wondering which quarterback will be under center for the 2026 season. A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers is playing his best football with the Steelers, but he's on a one-year contract, and will he really want to return for a 22nd season? This seems unlikely.
But it only took one dominant Week 17 performance for fans to take at Pittsburgh's next quarterback.
Malik Willis is coming off a phenomenal showing against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday night. Despite the loss, Willis was miraculous in place of the injured Jordan Love—completing 18 of 21 passes for 288 yards (13.7 yards per attempt) and three total touchdowns (two rushing).
Willis also chipped in nine carries for 60 yards on the ground (6.7 yards per carry), which brought his yardage total up to 348 for the game. Willis also earned a stellar 134.6 passer rating and a 94.5 QBR for his spectacular Week 17 showing.
Now, NFL experts are already dubbing Willis as the next reclamation quarterback who's going to break the bank in free agency during the 2026 offseason... and his connection with the Steelers is easy to see.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could pursue QB Malik Willis in free agency in 2026
The Steelers need to find a long-term quarterback; there's no question about that. Regardless of how things go the rest of the way and whether Aaron Rodgers helps Pittsburgh snap its playoff drought, this team needs a quality option for 2026.
But beyond just a need at QB, there's an obvious link between the Steelers and Willis.
During the 2022 pre-draft process, former general manager Kevin Colbert was determined to select a quarterback to leave the Steelers with as his parting gift after over two decades of service with the team. Ultimately, he drafted two: Kenny Pickett and Chris Oladokun. Pickett, the 20th overall pick out of Pitt, underwhelmed and was traded after just two seasons, while Oladokun never stuck around long enough to suit up for a regular-season game with the Steelers.
It's clear now that Colbert made the wrong choice. If they were sold on taking a quarterback (outside of striking gold on Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy), Willis would have been the right choice. In fact, many NFL Draft experts predicted that Willis was the quarterback the Steelers had their eye on and thought he would be the pick on draft day.
Though next offseason would mark nearly four years since the 2022 NFL Draft, the Steelers would have a chance to undo their fatal draft mistake and sign Willis as their 2026 quarterback. While Colbert is no longer the GM, Omar Khan, who worked alongside Colbert, is very familiar with Willis and what he would bring to the table.
The 2025 NFL season was the year of 'reclamation quarterbacks' around the NFL. Former journeyman Sam Darnold was spectacular this year, while Daniel Jones was having a remarkable season before suffering an Achilles injury. The Steelers could follow suit with a reclaimation QB of their own in Malik Willis next offseason.