Just two years ago, when the Steelers finished their second season with a bottom-10 offense led by quarterback Kenny Pickett, a reporter asked Khan: Did you have full faith in Pickett entering Year 3?
Advertisement
“We have… I have full faith in Kenny,” Khan said on Feb. 29, 2024. “He’s shown us some good things and obviously there were some issues with the offense. And I’m excited about the impact that Arthur Smith will have on him.
“Arthur is very optimistic about Kenny. I know they reached out and said we’ll have some strong competition there and we’ll see where it goes.”
Less than two weeks later, the Steelers signed quarterback Justin Fields. Kenny Pickett was a Philadelphia Eagle on March 15 and Russell Wilson a Steeler on March 29.
Of course, Khan had indicated that the club would invite “strong competition.” Still, the general manager’s “full faith” endorsement rang hollow in near-record time.
Advertisement
So, as Khan fielded questions this week about the future of four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers, it was worth asking: To what extent should fans take his words at face value?
The Steelers signed Rodgers last season to a one-year contract after Rodgers wanted to play for head coach Mike Tomlin. Rodgers completed 65.7% of his passes for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions while leading the Steelers to a playoff berth and a home wild-card loss. When Tomlin resigned days later, team owner Art Rooney II said, “Aaron came here to play for Mike, so I think it will most likely affect his decision.”
Clarity has not yet arrived.
Advertisement
Khan expressed interest Tuesday in having Rodgers return for a second season.
“The door is open to have Aaron back,” Khan said. “I’ve had conversations with him. I talked to him last week. Mike McCarthy talked to him and knows how we feel about him. Right now we’re proceeding (as) if he were a free agent and on the roster.
“But he knows how we feel about him.”
Will that lead to a reunion?
Khan’s comments specific to Rodgers seemed to indicate that the ball was in Rodgers’ court. A return would mean not only a reunion for Rodgers and his 2024 team, but also a reunion for Rodgers and his Green Bay Packers head coach of 13 years, McCarthy. That history and depth of knowledge could influence Rodgers.
Advertisement
But the Steelers can’t afford to wait.
If Rodgers isn’t Pittsburgh’s QB1 in 2026, who could be?
By signing McCarthy instead of a promising talent, Rooney made it clear he is not interested in a rebuild. He wants to win now. That takes a quarterback.
The Steelers selected Will Howard out of Ohio State in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but a broken finger on his throwing hand limited Howard’s exposure. The 2026 NFL Draft is widely considered shallow at quarterback, while the 2027 class appeals to personnel executives. That combination could further increase the Steelers’ desire for Rodgers to serve another season as a bridge, or it could prompt Pittsburgh to give Howard the keys with the understanding that high-end talent is out for the year.
Advertisement
“Like all fans, we’re all looking for the next franchise player,” Khan said. “(The) guy who will be our quarterback for 10 to 15 years, and it could be Will. We don’t know…
“Unfortunately he got hurt and we didn’t get a chance to see him in the preseason, but we’ve watched his progression in practice and it’s been exciting. I know the new coaching staff, specifically Coach McCarthy, is excited to work with him.”
A free agent quarterback could also be in the mix for Pittsburgh.
Khan spoke several times Tuesday about the “flexibility” the Steelers have without paying a high-priced quarterback. But even paying a pending free agent like Green Bay’s Malik Willis around $30 million per year would still be well below the 11 quarterbacks in the league who make more than $50 million per year. The Steelers pursued Sam Darnold last offseason when Minnesota let him go and he eventually signed with the Seattle Seahawks, a person with knowledge of the chase told Yahoo Sports. That strategy could suggest that Pittsburgh is willing to pay for what executives view as the “middle-class” quarterback rather than just developmental prospects if Rodgers doesn’t return.
Advertisement
Khan was asked Tuesday if Rodgers’ free agent decision had been limited to just the Steelers and retirement, or if the 42-year-old would consider playing his 22North Dakota season with another team.
“That’s a question for Aaron,” Khan said. “I mean, he knows how we feel and I think we know how he feels about us. It was a good experience for both parties. Unfortunately we didn’t reach our goals of winning the games we wanted to win in the end, but there’s a mutual respect there.”
Khan said he doesn’t expect the waiting game to last until June like the Steelers’ pursuit of Rodgers did a year ago.
“The circumstances are a little different,” Khan said. “But based on the conversations we had, I think neither side wants this to drag on like it did last year.”
Advertisement
With free agency approaching, a decision by Rodgers would allow the Steelers to fully understand their options before quarterbacks like Willis, Kyler Murray of the Arizona Cardinals and Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins find their new homes. The Atlanta Falcons confirmed Tuesday that they will release veteran Kirk Cousins and not re-sign him, which will play into the quarterback supply-and-demand puzzle. But signing Cousins for a low-end version of what Rodgers did in 2025 seems illogical.
Instead, the Steelers will continue to pretend they are waiting for Rodgers and leaving the door open for his return. His conversations in free agency, and perhaps even his 30 draft visits, may tell another story.
Are the Steelers really focusing on Rodgers and Rodgers alone for their 2026 quarterback?
Maybe fans shouldn’t have full faith.