If you walk into a bar in the South Side of Pittsburgh and ask who was the Steelers quarterback last year, you’re going to get a different answer depending on which month the person is remembering. It has been a absolute whirlwind. For a franchise that had the same guy under center for nearly two decades, the post-Ben Roethlisberger era has felt like a high-speed game of musical chairs played on a slippery floor.
The 2025 season just wrapped up, and honestly, it was one of the weirder ones in recent memory. Aaron Rodgers was the man in the spotlight. Yeah, that Aaron Rodgers. The one who spent forever in Green Bay and then had that brief, injury-plagued stint with the Jets. He signed with Pittsburgh for the 2025 campaign, and for a while, it looked like the "one last ride" story everyone in the media loves to obsess over.
Rodgers started 16 games and led the team back to the top of the AFC North, which hadn't happened since 2020. But because it’s the Steelers, it couldn't just be a smooth ride. A late-season wrist injury against the Bengals forced the team to turn back to a familiar face: Mason Rudolph.
The 2025 Depth Chart: Experience and New Blood
Heading into the 2026 offseason, the "who was" question gets even more complicated because of how the roster was built. The room was basically a mix of a legendary vet, a trusted backup, and a kid with a lot of hype.
- Aaron Rodgers: The clear QB1. He brought that MVP-level efficiency back to Acrisure Stadium, but let’s be real, he’s 42. He played great, but the playoff loss to the Bills (the same team that seems to haunt Pittsburgh's postseason dreams) has people wondering if he’s got anything left in the tank for 2026.
- Mason Rudolph: The ultimate survivor. After a year in Tennessee, he came back on a two-year deal in early 2025. He’s the safety net. When Rodgers went down, Rudolph stepped in and completed 75% of his passes to beat Cincinnati. He’s the guy who knows the playbook better than anyone.
- Will Howard: The rookie. Taken in the sixth round of the 2025 draft out of Ohio State. He’s the "project" that fans are already clamoring to see, especially after he won a national championship in college.
The 2024 Experiment: Russell Wilson and Justin Fields
To understand why the Steelers went after Rodgers in 2025, you have to look at the total chaos of 2024. That was the year Omar Khan—the Steelers GM who basically treats the salary cap like a Tetris game—decided to completely blow up the room. Out went Kenny Pickett (traded to the Eagles), and in came Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.
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It was supposed to be a "pole position" battle. Russell Wilson was the veteran leader, signed for the league minimum because the Broncos were still paying him nearly $40 million to not play for them. Justin Fields was the young, athletic spark plug.
Wilson won the job, but a calf injury in the preseason meant Fields actually started the first six games. He went 4-2. People were hyped. They thought they’d found the future. But Mike Tomlin, being the stubborn and often correct coach he is, went back to Wilson once he was healthy. Wilson threw for over 400 yards against the Bengals and finished the season with 16 touchdowns.
But it wasn't enough. The season ended with a four-game losing streak and a disappointing exit. Both Wilson and Fields hit free agency in 2025 and ended up in New York. Wilson's time with the Giants was short-lived, and Fields struggled so much with the Jets that he eventually got benched for Tyrod Taylor.
A Quick History of the "Post-Ben" Odyssey
If you go back even further, the list of names is basically a "Who's That?" of NFL backups. Since Roethlisberger retired after 2021, the Steelers have started five different quarterbacks in just four seasons.
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- Mitch Trubisky (2022): The first attempt at a bridge. It didn't last. He was benched for the rookie Pickett mid-season.
- Kenny Pickett (2022-2023): The hometown hero from Pitt. He had the "it" factor in the fourth quarter but couldn't stay healthy or consistent enough to keep the job.
- Mason Rudolph (2023): He saved the 2023 season, leading a three-game win streak to sneak into the playoffs.
- Russell Wilson / Justin Fields (2024): The high-upside gamble that didn't quite hit the jackpot.
- Aaron Rodgers (2025): The blockbuster move that finally won the division but fell short of the Super Bowl.
Why Does It Matter Who Was Steelers Quarterback?
The Steelers are a "standard is the standard" organization. They don't do losing seasons—literally, Tomlin hasn't had one in nearly two decades. But the lack of a franchise guy has turned the team into a defensive powerhouse that’s constantly held back by a revolving door at QB.
Watching the 2025 season, you could see the difference. Having a guy like Rodgers meant the defense, led by T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, didn't have to be perfect every single drive. But Rodgers is a short-term fix.
The real question for 2026 isn't just who was the quarterback, but who will be. Is it Will Howard's turn? Do they trade for a guy like Matt LaFleur (Rodgers' old coach) to keep the veteran happy for one more year? Or does Omar Khan have another rabbit to pull out of his hat?
What to Watch for This Offseason
If you’re tracking the Steelers' next move, keep an eye on these three specific areas. This isn't just speculation; it's how the front office has operated lately.
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First, look at the contract status of Aaron Rodgers. If he retires, the Steelers are back to square one unless they believe Mason Rudolph is a legitimate 17-game starter. Most experts doubt that. Second, watch the draft capital. The Steelers traded away some picks for guys like DK Metcalf (who was a beast in 2025, by the way), so they might not have the ammo to move up for a top-tier rookie QB in 2026.
Finally, keep an eye on the coaching staff. If Arthur Smith stays as the Offensive Coordinator, the system will continue to favor a veteran who can make quick decisions. If they change things up, it might signal a move toward a more mobile, younger quarterback like Will Howard.
The "Steelers Way" is about stability, but the quarterback position has been anything but stable since Big Ben hung up the cleats. Whether it’s the veteran brilliance of Rodgers or the comeback story of Rudolph, being the quarterback in Pittsburgh is about as high-pressure as it gets in the NFL.
If you're looking to dive deeper into the current roster, check out the official Steelers Depth Chart for the latest updates on who's actually taking reps. You might also want to look into the 2025 season stats to see exactly how the Rodgers-to-Metcalf connection changed the offense's PPG (points per game) compared to the Wilson era.
Keep an eye on the news out of Saint Vincent College this summer. That’s where the next chapter of this quarterback saga will officially begin.