Steelers make bold gamble on quarterback ‘Plan B’ amid Aaron Rodgers decision

For the second straight offseason, the NFL is awaiting Aaron Rodgers’ decision.

Rodgers recently told Pat McAfee that he wasn’t ready to make a decision anytime soon, while also confirming he will avoid a move into broadcasting.

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Rodgers is known to take his time with such decision, waiting until June 15 last year to ink his one-year deal with the Steelers.

The decision will come down to Rodgers alone, but time is ticking with the new league season just days away.

Off the back of his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, CBS Sports published a ‘bold predictions’ piece, which noted the 21-year-veteran could choose to retire instead of return.

If Rodgers chooses to call it a career, Pittsburgh would likely need to act quickly to find their replacement.

Or do they? Mark Kaboly, the Steelers correspondent for The Pat McAfee Show, is confident that Pittsburgh will stick with what it has and add a QB3 along the way.

“Plan B in my eyes is right in front of you. If Aaron says, ‘Nope, I’m done’, it’s Mason [Rudolph], Will [Howard], let’s see who can win the job and we’ll bring in some third guy,” Kaboly said on the Kaboly + Mack Show.

“Draft pick, veteran, whatever. We’re never gonna play him, anyways, at least this year, I think that is the writing on the wall.

“That’s what their plan is. It’s either Aaron, Mason, Will, [or] Will, Mason, questionmark. 

“As in Easton Stick or a draft pick. Somebody that you just want on the roster. Or as Rodgers would say, Sky-Skylar Thompson.”

It would certainly be a bold move to not replace Rodgers if he calls it a career.

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After helping Ohio State to a national title, Howard landed with the Steelers at No. 185 in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The 24-year-old suffered a freak hand injury on a center-exchange which kept him out for the entire preseason, staying on the injured list until Week 11. 

It was essentially a redshirt year for Howard, who has been endorsed by ex-Steelers QB Charlie Batch, and he could benefit from sitting behind Rodgers for another season.

Away from the in-house options, the Steelers have been linked to multiple quarterbacks in the carousel.

That includes Malik Willis, who has been told to chase the dream by one ex-Green Bay Packers teammate.

Willis is set to be the most coveted quarterback in a thin-free agency class, and is set to demand close to $30 million annually.

But other teams, including the Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings are set to be in the hunt for his services.

Other options could include Kyler Murray, and Tua Tagovailoa, who has just been released by the Miami Dolphins.

But ultimately, Rodgers holds the keys for the Steelers offseason, and a decision would preferably need to come sooner rather than later.

Only time will tell if the Steelers’ potential gamble pays off.

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