The Super Bowl is set, as the long-awaited rematch between the Seahawks and the Patriots is on. While both of these teams are different from when they met last, one thing hasn’t changed: the Pittsburgh Steelers still aren’t competitors.
Now there is even more reason for Pittsburgh to have regret.
While not a massive talking point last offseason, the Steelers reportedly made a run at Sam Darnold. It seemed like Pittsburgh’s first choice was Justin Fields, but after he went to the Jets, the team reportedly went after Darnold.
It was too little too late, though, as Darnold agreed to a deal with the Seahawks. He went on to have a career year and is just 60 minutes away from hoisting a Lombardi trophy. As for the Steelers, they will learn to live with the regret of not pursuing him harder.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are feeling massive regret for not signing Sam Darnold
While Darnold won’t be mistaken for an elite quarterback, he has proven to be more than proficient in leading a team. He helped the Vikings before confirming that he was a capable passer this year in Seattle.
There was inherent risk in signing him, of course, but it worked out for the Seahawks. I’m guessing they are extremely happy with their decision.
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Now, the Steelers get to sit on the sidelines for yet another Super Bowl. They have no answer at quarterback, and their long-term outlook is murky at best.
Perhaps what this proves is that Pittsburgh should be willing to give castoffs a second chance. We have seen numerous players find a second life in the right system. If the draft doesn’t pan out, the Steelers need to heavily consider this route.
For now, though, they get to play the ultimate game of “what if” with Darnold. The AFC was wide open this year, and the right quarterback could have made a massive difference.
Quarterback wasn’t the only reason this team faltered, but let’s not act like Aaron Rodgers was putting this team over the edge. At the very least, you would have gotten a more consistent player in Darnold.
For now, though, we have to sit and wait for another offseason to see who will handle the quarterback job for the Steelers. Seattle, meanwhile, is set to compete in the Super Bowl. Pittsburgh was this close to adding a potential championship-caliber quarterback.