The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves at a familiar crossroads: quarterback uncertainty. This time, it revolves around the legendary but aging Aaron Rodgers, whose plans for the 2026 season remain shrouded in mystery. While the team awaits his decision, the rumor mill is already churning with potential successors, and one name is generating significant buzz: Alabama's Ty Simpson.
The Rodgers Conundrum
Will he stay or will he go? That's the million-dollar question in Pittsburgh. Despite putting up respectable numbers last season—completing 65.7% of his passes for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions—Rodgers is no longer viewed as an elite, top-five signal-caller. The media narrative is split. ESPN's Brooke Pryor recently suggested a return is "more likely than not," while CBS's Aditi Kinkhabwala painted a starkly different picture.
Kinkhabwala, citing sources close to the quarterback, stated the chance of Rodgers returning is "minuscule." She elaborated, "In conversations with people who were around him all year... all of those people that I spoke to said that it seems far more likely that he is done than that he is going to return." This conflicting intel leaves the Steelers' front office in a precarious position, unable to fully commit to a future with or without their veteran leader.
A Draft-Day Solution Emerges
With the NFL Draft looming in April, speculation is turning to how Pittsburgh might address the position. On ESPN's "NFL Live," analyst Louis Riddick passionately endorsed Alabama's Ty Simpson as a prime target for the black and gold, especially if they hold the 21st overall pick. Riddick didn't mince words, stating he doesn't even consider Simpson and another prospect, Will Howard, to be "in the same stratosphere" when it comes to throwing ability.
Riddick pointed to Simpson's resilience and late-season surge as key selling points. "Based upon how the latter half of the season ended, which wasn’t all on him... he turns it around in the playoffs against Oklahoma and brings his team back from a 17-point deficit," Riddick explained. The analyst then delivered the line that has Steelers fans dreaming: "He’s tailor-made for Mike McCarthy’s system." Given McCarthy's history of developing talented quarterbacks, this endorsement carries considerable weight.
Why Ty Simpson Fits
Simpson isn't just a project; he's coming off a stellar 2025 campaign where he threw for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and a mere five interceptions. His combination of arm talent, poise under pressure, and proven ability in a major college program makes him an attractive option for a team that may need to transition quickly. The Steelers' offense, under McCarthy, values precision, decision-making, and the ability to execute in critical moments—traits Simpson displayed during Alabama's playoff run.
The argument for drafting Simpson is compelling even if Rodgers decides to return for one more year. Securing a high-ceiling quarterback to learn behind a future Hall of Famer for a season represents the ideal scenario for long-term franchise stability. It would provide a seamless bridge rather than a frantic scramble should Rodgers retire a year from now.
Planning for the Inevitable
The core of this story isn't just about one player; it's about a franchise preparing for the post-Rodgers era, whenever it arrives. His tenure in Pittsburgh, while successful, has always had an expiration date. The Steelers' front office, led by General Manager Omar Khan, is known for its proactive approach, and allowing sentiment to delay crucial roster decisions is not their style.
As the draft approaches, all eyes will be on the Steelers' war room. Will they use their first-round capital to secure what they hope is their next franchise quarterback? The connection between Ty Simpson and Pittsburgh feels more than just casual speculation—it's a logical football fit backed by vocal analyst support. One thing is certain: the Steelers aren't waiting for an official announcement from Rodgers to start plotting their future, and that future might very well be wearing crimson and white before donning the black and gold.
