The Pittsburgh Steelers have one goal in mind this season—to find playoff success. Mike Tomlin and his staff have full confidence in quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and the four-time MVP hasn't completely ruled out a return to the team in 2026.
While the focus is on the 'here and now' in Pittsburgh, the front office has been scouting quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Since taking over the front office ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft, general manager Omar Khan and assistant GM Andy Weidl haven't spent more than a sixth-round pick on the quarterback position. They will want to find the quarterback of the future for the Steelers.
But even if Pittsburgh takes that big swing early in the 2026 draft, they could still look elsewhere for help.
The 2026 season will mark the 20th season of Mike Tomlin's head coaching tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers. While he may go on coaching for years, we know that Tomlin doesn't want to start from scratch.
Because of this, we can bet the Steelers will go out and sign—or potentially even trade for—a bridge quarterback who can start early in the 2026 season before handing the reins to a young draft pick. As the Steelers get some much-needed rest during their Week 5 bye, you can bet that they've got their eye on some veteran quarterbacks around the league who could wear the Black and Gold next season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have their eyes on veteran bridge quarterbacks for the 2026 season
One quarterback who instantly comes to mind as a potential bridge quarterback for Pittsburgh in 2026 is Mac Jones. The former first-round pick of the New England Patriots has been on fire since leaving the Jaguars during the 2025 offseason and signing with the San Francisco 49ers. Jones doesn't have an elite arm or athletic traits, but he can command an offense with his accuracy and toughness.
Jones has already led the Niners to a 3-0 record, which included 905 passing yards, six touchdowns, and just one interception. With starter Brock Purdy recently signing a five-year, $265 million contract, Jones has a chance to be the top QB on the free agent market next offseason.
He's not the only quarterback the Steelers could pursue.
Daniel Jones is currently having a phenomenal start to his 2025 campaign in Indianapolis. If he keeps it up, the Colts could elect to sign him to a long-term contract. However, if he does become available, Tomlin could pounce on the opportunity to grab an experienced veteran bridge quarterback like Jones.
Some of the other notable free-agent quarterbacks who could hit the market in 2026 include Carson Wentz, Marcus Mariota, and Jimmy Garoppolo.
If the Steelers decide against the free-agent QB route next offseason, trading for a signal-caller isn't out of the question. Players like Tua Tagovailoa, Kyler Murray, Kirk Cousins, and Bryce Young come to mind.
If these don't feel like intriguing options, you're not alone. But just because we might not love the idea of going this route doesn't mean that it's not something Mike Tomlin is considering.
We know that Khan and Weidl will have the ability to draft a 'franchise' quarterback as early as 2026, but even if they plan to take one high in the draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers could roll with a bridge QB early next season. As of the team's Week 5 bye, it looks like these are the options that could be available next season.