The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft, which is going to be a big event for the franchise as the city is hosting the draft for the first time. Another reason this event is so pivotal for the Steelers is that the organization needs to address some weaknesses on the roster while also finding some quality depth, and the franchise has 12 picks to try and do so. One glaring weakness Pittsburgh had following the 2025 season was at wide receiver. DK Metcalf had no help in the passing game. He garnered too much attention from defenses and the Steelers needed another target. Enter Michael Pittman Jr.
YouTube / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers WR Michael Pittman Jr. speaking with members of the media after being introduced to the team ahead of the 2026 NFL season.
The Steelers acquired Pittman in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts, and Pittsburgh got great value on the deal as the Colts had no leverage as the team was essentially just trying to dump his contract. All the Steelers had to give up was a late-round pick swap. This also was a move that should make Aaron Rodgers want to return to the team for the 2026 season, as Pittman provides him with a great route runner that excels in the middle of the field. Pittman joined Good Morning Football on Friday, and he was asked about who might be his quarterback in 2026.
"You know, I have no idea," Pittman said. "I got a chance to talk to Aaron, and we did not talk anything about football. I'm no stranger to quarterback turnover. Whatever happens, we're gonna roll with that, and it's gonna be great. Aaron's gonna do what he wants. I don't think that I could convince him any other way because Aaron's done more than just about any other NFL player in the league. Just give him his space, and if he's ready to come back, then he'll be back, and if he's not, we'll roll with what we got."
Pittman has spoken about Rodgers more than once during the 2026 offseason, as he discussed the quarterback during an appearance on Up & Adams. He revealed during that interview that the two actually know one another from working out together in California during the offseason, and he predicted then that the quarterback will try to play.
Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Aaron Rodgers evades Myles Garrett during a win over the Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium during the 2025 season.
Pittman did make a good point, and that was that he is very used to quarterback turnover. He has played with a ton of different starting quarterbacks throughout his six-year career. Those quarterbacks include Daniel Jones, Philip Rivers, Anthony Richardson, Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, Gardner Minshew, and Joe Flacco. There has been zero consistency at the position for Pittman, yet he has still been able to be a consistent contributor in each season.
The veteran wide receiver is of the belief that Rodgers has done enough in his career to give him the right to take as long as he wants with this decision. This is probably just a media-trained answer, as the team certainly wants to know who will be leading them on offense in 2026. The other options would be Will Howard, Mason Rudolph, or a rookie acquired through the draft.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers quarterbacks Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and Aaron Rodgers warm up prior to Pittsburgh's 34-12 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11 of the 2025 NFL regular season.
Steelers' Michael Pittman Jr. Has Belief In The Other Quarterbacks On The Roster
Pittman would obviously like the opportunity to play with Rodgers, but he has spoken highly of both Rudolph and Howard since being traded to Pittsburgh. Rudolph is obviously the experienced veteran backup, while Howard is a young, raw prospect that has a ton of potential. He was just a sixth-round pick in 2025, but the coaching staff has not tried to hide the excitement surrounding the second-year quarterback going into 2026.
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