With Aaron Rodgers officially confirming that 2025 will be his final season in the NFL, all eyes are now on the Pittsburgh Steelers and their next big quarterback move.
While Rodgers brings star power and hope for one last Super Bowl run, insiders are already hinting at who could take the reins once he’s gone, and Daniel Jones’ name just shot to the top of the list.
Rodgers made his retirement plans clear during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, noting that the upcoming season with the Steelers will be his last. After flirting with retirement previously, the legendary QB finally signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh earlier this month. Now, the franchise is faced with mapping out its quarterback future, something ESPN reporter Brooke Pryor dove into following Rodgers’ announcement.
In a new ESPN breakdown, Pryor not only highlighted potential picks in the 2026 NFL Draft like Cade Klubnik from Clemson, Garrett Nussmeier from LSU, Drew Allar from Penn State, and LaNorris Sellers from South Carolina, but also floated the idea of a high-profile free agent signing: Daniel Jones.
Jones, currently signed to a one-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts, could be one of the top names available in the 2026 free agent class. He’s set to compete with Anthony Richardson for the starting job in Indy, but depending on how that battle plays out, the Steelers could swoop in if he hits the market.
Pryor even mentioned Richardson himself as another option for Pittsburgh, should things fall through in Indianapolis and he become available via trade or release. The Steelers, with a stack of compensatory picks due to recent free agent departures, are in a solid position to make a splash, whether by trading up in the draft or pursuing a big-name veteran like Jones.
For now, Rodgers leads a QB room that includes veterans Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson, plus sixth-round rookie Will Howard. It’s a stopgap setup, steady enough for a final Rodgers run, but hardly the future of the franchise.
Rodgers, never one to shy away from theatrics, said during his McAfee appearance, “What better place to finish it than in one of the cornerstone franchises of the NFL with Mike Tomlin and a great group of leaders and great guys?” His sights are set on ending his career on a high note, ideally with Pittsburgh’s first Super Bowl since 2008.
But before any big quarterback changes happen, the team has a more immediate hurdle: winning a playoff game. The Steelers haven’t advanced past the first round since 2017, and their most recent postseason ended with a disappointing early exit.
Week 1 of the upcoming season will bring major drama, as Rodgers and the Steelers go head-to-head with his former team, the New York Jets. In a full-circle twist, Jets QB Justin Fields will also be playing against his old team, the Steelers, in that same game.
While 2025 might be Rodgers’ swan song, it’s clear Pittsburgh’s eyes are already on what comes next. And if Daniel Jones performs well in Indianapolis, don’t be surprised if he ends up wearing black and gold in 2026.
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