The Pittsburgh Steelers are still searching for a franchise quarterback. General manager Omar Khan admitted that his team is awaiting a decision from the 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers, but Rodgers' potential presence in 2026 wouldn't push the team forward. Now the latest quarterback buzz is sure to divide the fanbase.
On Thursday, just before on-field drills kicked off at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, ESPN's Stephen Holder reported that the Indianapolis Colts have given Anthony Richardson Sr. permission to seek a trade.
And just like that, the Steelers have one more potential QB option for the 2026 season.
Many fans have already decided they are 'out' on Richardson. The No. 4 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft has been disappointing as a passer early in his career while attempting to play through numerous nagging injuries. At one point in 2024, Richardson even pulled himself out of the lineup to catch his breath—a move that was not received well by the NFL media.
Now entering his fourth NFL season, Richardson could be on the move... and this might just be the perfect win-win scenario for the Steelers.
The Pittsburgh Steelers should roll the dice on a trade for QB Anthony Richardson
Let me be clear: on the surface, Richardson doesn't feel like an ideal scheme fit for Mike McCarthy's offense. The Steelers' new head coach—who found offensive success in Green Bay and Dallas—has always valued the ability for quarterbacks to get the ball out of their hands with timing and accuracy. That doesn't fit the description of Richardson.
Still, a polarizing option like this might actually be what this team needs.
In addition to breaking the status quo and getting away from old retread signal-callers at the tail ends of their careers (like Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers), Richardson would give them a quarterback with unparalleled traits—a big-bodied QB with a cannon arm and elite rushing ability.
While the young quarterback still has a long way to go as a passer, it's worth noting that Richardson still has a winning record as a starting QB (8-7), and when you factor in his rushing production, the physically-gifted quarterback has 21 total touchdowns and 11 interceptions in his first 15 NFL starts.
Here's the best part: Richardson is either going to turn it around and be the quarterback of the future, or he'll prove that he's the bust most fans think he is. There won't be anything in between.
Most likely, it's the latter. Richardson hasn't shown enough improvement as a passer for fans to be confident in his ability if traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. But that's okay. What's the worst that could happen? The Steelers could go 4-13 with Richardson at the helm, and this team would finally be able to take a shot at a franchise QB in 2027?
The Steelers haven't felt like an actual playoff contender since 2017, and they can't keep rolling with quarterbacks who only do the bare minimum to help the team keep its head above water. Still just 23 years old, Richardson has the ability and upside to turn things around and be a reclamation project with exceptional tools.
But even if he fails, it would be a win for the Steelers, as fans would finally be granted their wish of escaping football purgatory. There's only a small shot Anthony Richardson turns his career around and becomes a franchise QB, but a trade with the Colts could end up being a win-win scenario for the Pittsburgh Steelers.