New Steelers Rumors on Kirk Cousins, Contingency QB Plans for Aaron Rodgers Decision

The Pittsburgh Steelers are waiting on an answer from last year's starting quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, regarding whether he'll return to the team in 2026.

However, they also looked into now-Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins while waiting on Rodgers, per a report from NFL Network's Tom Pelissero of NFL Network during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show.

"Kirk Cousins was on the Steelers' radar, just like he was on the Steelers' radar a year ago," Pelissero said regarding Cousins, who played for the Atlanta Falcons in 2024 and 2025 before the team parted ways with him in March. Cousins just signed a new deal with Las Vegas that will give him $20 million guaranteed.

"They did call and check on his availability while waiting for Rodgers, which, remember, didn't resolve itself until June last year. They were checking on a bunch of different contingency plans, Cousins was one of them," Pelissero added.

"The Falcons' regime at the time didn't really make Cousins available, but they certainly had a level of interest, and this time around, if Rodgers didn't come back, my understanding has been that Cousins was one of the possibilities that they could go out and pursue."

Cousins is no longer an option. The Steelers certainly hope Rodgers will choose to return to Pittsburgh at this point. Pelissero mentioned some notable "experienced veteran quarterbacks" still out there, including Russell Wilson, Jimmy Garoppolo and Tyrod Taylor.

However, Pelissero noted they didn't seem like possibilities in Pittsburgh. Wilson was already a Steeler in 2024 and the team has "been down that road," per Pelissero. He added that a Garoppolo return to the league would seemingly happen with the Los Angeles Rams, where he was a backup last year. And Taylor, while absolutely proving to be a capable backup and spot starter in recent years, doesn't appear to be a QB1.

"It's really Aaron Rodgers or the Steelers are going to roll with Will Howard and Mason Rudolph and, you know, sign or draft another one to fill out the depth chart," Pelissero said.

"Having said that, Aaron Rodgers has not committed to the Steelers. He has not given them a firm answer..."

That all being written, while Rodgers hasn't given his answer, Pelissero did lean toward a return.

"All the indications have not changed from what I've been told over the last two months, which is that if I had to lean one way or another, I would lean toward Aaron Rodgers is the Steelers' quarterback in 2026, but at what point does he actually tell them that?"

A Rodgers return would mean a reunion with his long-time head coach with the Green Bay Packers, Mike McCarthy, who is now in charge of the Steelers.

Pittsburgh is looking to improve off an AFC North title and 10-win season that ended with an ugly 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card round. Long-time head coach Mike Tomlin stepped down after nearly two decades in charge, and now McCarthy has taken over.

The biggest question, of course, is at QB1. Cousins was apparently a thought, but that door has slammed shut. While the Steelers wait for Rodgers' decision, they look ahead toward the NFL draft in just three weeks, which will take place in Pittsburgh from April 23-25.