The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the offseason with uncertainty at the quarterback position, as Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and Kyle Allen were all set to hit free agency, leaving Skylar Thompson as the only quarterback on the roster.
In recent days, Fields signed a two-year, $40 million deal with the New York Jets, while Allen agreed to an undisclosed contract with the Detroit Lions.
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Though they re-signed Mason Rudolph to a two-year, $8 million contract to join Thompson, the Steelers are still in search of a starting quarterback for the 2025 season. They have been frequently linked to four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, who was released by the Jets earlier this week.
Rodgers has not yet decided on his destination for next year, so Pittsburgh is likely still considering other options. However, NFL insider Mike Florio recently suggested that the Steelers might prefer to go with Rudolph over bringing Wilson back for another season.
“I think we need to take Rudolph seriously as a potential Plan A,” Florio told co-host Michael Holley on Pro Football Talk. “I think Rudolph closes the door on Russell Wilson. I don’t think they ever wanted Russell Wilson back.”
Wilson, 36, joined the Steelers last offseason after spending 10 years with the Seattle Seahawks and two with the Denver Broncos. The former Super Bowl champion had a Pro Bowl-worthy 2024 season, completing 63.7% of his passes for 2,482 yards, 16 touchdowns, and five interceptions, while also adding 155 rushing yards and two more touchdowns.
However, Pittsburgh lost their last five games, including their Wild Card matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, after losing the division to John Harbaugh’s team, which gave them home-field advantage in that game.
Despite Wilson being a 10-time Pro Bowler and still showing some ability, the Steelers might be hesitant to bring him back for 2025. It could be due to his personality or his relationship with teammates, or they might simply want to draft a new quarterback and allocate more money toward improving the team around Rudolph and a rookie.
In any case, the Steelers have options that may yield similar or better results than last season. Wilson, however, is running out of starting opportunities and may be left without a job if Pittsburgh opts for a different direction.
