NFL Rumors: Steelers Linked to Controversial Name at QB if Aaron Rodgers Retires

February 03, 2026 ,
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers reacts during 2026 game.

Pittsburgh has a new coach in Mike McCarthy, a roster that still wants to win now, and a quarterback plan that looks shaky the second Aaron Rodgers hesitates, which is why Kyler Murray’s name is starting to emerge in the same conversations as the Steelers.

Steelers Kyler Murray rumors hinge on Aaron Rodgers

The idea is that if Rodgers returns, Pittsburgh likely stays on that track for one more run. 

If he doesn’t, the Steelers could pivot fast, and McCarthy has been connected to Murray as a quarterback he’s liked for a while. That’s where things get interesting, because Murray is still only 28 and has the kind of upside teams chase when the draft class isn’t loaded. 

He was the first overall pick in 2019, won Offensive Rookie of the Year, and made multiple Pro Bowls, plus he’s had seasons where he’s flirted with 4,000 passing yards while piling up touchdowns with both his arm and his legs. 

Kyler Murray trade price could be surprisingly manageable

The other twist is the rumored cost. 

Some league chatter has suggested Arizona might not be looking at a king’s ransom, with the ballpark being a Day 2 pick if the timing gets tight before mid-March, when a big chunk of Murray’s future money reportedly locks in. 

That’s why there's noise that the New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings, and Miami Dolphins are linked too, because if Arizona Cardinals decide they want a reset with a new direction, they’d prefer to move quickly rather than drag it into late spring.

For Pittsburgh, the fit is obvious if Rodgers isn’t walking through the door. 

The Steelers are tired of living in quarterback limbo, and Murray would instantly become the clear QB1 with his playmaking, giving McCarthy a different kind of tool than the Steelers have had in a while. 

It’s still a pricey contract and not every front office will love the volatility, but if the rumored price really stays in that second-round neighborhood, don’t be surprised if the Steelers are one of the teams pushing hardest the moment the Rodgers decision becomes official.

Photo Credit: Michael Longo/For USA Today Network-PA / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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