It's May, and there's drama surrounding quarterback Aaron Rodgers. So what else is new? Despite the agonizing delay in a decision on his future, most still expect Rodgers to be the Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback in 2026.
But what happens if the 42-year-old spurns Pittsburgh for retirement? Or what if the two parties are no longer on the same page?
If Rodgers doesn't return for one more season, most assume that the Steelers already have their QB room figured out—they would roll with veteran Mason Rudolph, second-year QB Will Howard, and rookie Drew Allar. That feels like a given... but that might not be what Mike McCarthy has in mind.
The long-time NFL head coach of the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys won't want to leave anything to chance, and as such, he could make a desperate move to get a quarterback he has strong ties to: Cooper Rush.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could sign QB Cooper Rush if Aaron Rodgers doesn't return
If Rush feels like an underwhelming option, that's because he is. The Central Michigan product has quality size at 6'3'' and 228 pounds, but he's a poor athlete with modest arm strength and velocity. In other words, Rush's skill set screams 'NFL backup'.
But that might not stop McCarthy from bringing him in.
Rush has been in the NFL since 2017, but 14 of his 16 career starts came when McCarthy was the head coach in Dallas. While Rush's tape never jumped off the page, the results coming off the bench in Dallas were impressive.
From 2021 to 2024, Rush led the Cowboys to a 9-5 record as a starter, with Dak Prescott missing significant time in 2022 and 2024. During his starts, Rush combined for 20 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions while throwing for 6.3 adjusted yards per attempt and 3,463 passing yards. This is more yards in 14 games than Aaron Rodgers had in 16 games with the Steelers last season (3,322).
Rush is a no-nonsense quarterback who can operate an offense with accuracy and timing. While he certainly wouldn't be the long-term answer for Pittsburgh, he was good enough to lead the Cowboys to a 0.643 win percentage during his tenure in Dallas.
Rush would allow McCarthy to run his offense the way he wants, as he continues to develop Drew Allar.
While one could argue that Rush would be the fourth-most talented QB on Pittsburgh's roster (even without Rodgers in town), McCarthy could value fit and scheme over tools—at least for the 2026 season.
If Rush were to sign with Pittsburgh and stick around through the 2026 season, it would likely mean that Mason Rudolph or Will Howard would be the odd man out. Though Rudolph is a respectable stop-gap option in his own right, he's gone just 1-5 in his last six NFL starts while throwing for 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions since 2024.
Rush is currently a free agent, but the veteran could draw some buzz from quarterback-needy teams soon.
Cooper Rush would hardly bring the excitement to the offense that Pittsburgh Steelers fans are hoping for this year, but if Aaron Rodgers doesn't return, we can't rule out a McCarthy-Rush reunion in 2026.
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