The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves at a crossroads at quarterback, and the answer to their ongoing search for stability under center may not have been on their roster in 2024. Adding Russell Wilson and Justin Fields didn’t live up to expectations, but conventional wisdom suggests one of them could be the team’s starter in 2025. However, recent reports indicate that Pittsburgh may look elsewhere for a solution.
Despite signing Wilson to a veteran-minimum deal and acquiring Fields via trade in 2024, the Steelers remain unconvinced either quarterback is the solution to winning their first playoff game since Jan. 15, 2017. Instead, they appear to be considering outside options. If that holds true, two names have emerged as potential targets: Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford.
Pittsburgh Steelers Expected To Look Outside for a Quarterback
After a reader asked NFL insider Albert Breer who had the best chance of starting for the Steelers next season — Fields, Wilson, or an outside free agent — Breer made it clear that Pittsburgh’s top priority is still to explore external options.
“I’d say an outside QB, then Justin Fields, then Russell Wilson,” Breer said. “Prior to Super Bowl week, and knowing things weren’t perfect between Wilson and the team, I thought Wilson loomed as a tread-water type of option for the Steelers, if other efforts failed in 2025. But seeing the pro-Wilson narrative on ’25 pushed through? I don’t think that’s going over great inside that building.
“Meanwhile, the team would love to keep working with Fields. I just don’t think they’ll hand him the starting job. So the idea of Aaron Rodgers or Stafford could appeal to the Steelers. If that doesn’t work, I think Pittsburgh looks at Fields with someone there to compete with him.”
This report underscores that neither Wilson nor Fields have done enough to lock down the starting job. Pittsburgh may still allow Fields to compete for it, but their apparent interest in Rodgers and Stafford suggests they want an experienced, high-level veteran leading the offense in 2025.
Would Aaron Rodgers or Matthew Stafford Be an Upgrade?
While Rodgers and Stafford are two of the biggest names on the market, their 2024 performance doesn’t necessarily suggest they’d be major upgrades over Wilson or Fields. Both veteran quarterbacks struggled statistically, posting regular season QB+ grades below the Steelers’ two 2024 starters:
- Rodgers: 72.2 (C-; 21st in the NFL)
- Stafford: 71.9 (C-; 22nd in the NFL)
- Wilson: 75.3 (C; 17th in the NFL)
- Fields: 78.1 (C+; N/R due to only 161 pass attempts)
Rodgers, at 41 years old, showed clear signs of decline in 2024, finishing 21st in PFN’s QB+ rankings, barely ahead of Stafford, who landed at 22nd. Wilson, meanwhile, placed higher than both at 75.3 (C), suggesting his play was better than the two veterans Pittsburgh is reportedly interested in.
As for Fields, his 78.1 (C+) grade was the highest of the group, but his limited sample size — and lack of championship experience compared to the others — make it difficult to gauge how he would fare over a full season. If given a chance to develop, Fields could be Pittsburgh’s best option, but the Steelers may not be willing to take that risk.