The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves in a critical search for a quarterback for the 2026 season and beyond. With options limited, the idea of bringing back a 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers is floating around. While Rodgers could provide a short-term boost, the Steelers are likely looking for a more sustainable solution.

Enter Mike McCarthy, the new head coach, who will undoubtedly aim to secure a long-term quarterback. The recent Super Bowl triumph of Sam Darnold, a former first-round pick turned journeyman, might tempt the Steelers to consider a similar reclamation project. However, Anthony Richardson is unlikely to be their target.

Reports suggest it’s ‘inevitable’ that Richardson, currently with the Indianapolis Colts, will seek a trade this offseason. The Colts appear ready to move forward with Daniel Jones, leaving Richardson on the outside looking in.

Despite the buzz surrounding Richardson, McCarthy and the Steelers seem uninterested. Richardson, who emerged from Florida with impressive physical attributes-standing nearly 6’4” and weighing 244 pounds-was once compared to Josh Allen.

Yet, injuries have plagued his career, limiting him to just 17 games since being drafted fourth overall in 2023. His stats, including a poor touchdown-to-interception ratio and a 67.8 career passer rating, haven’t helped his case.

As Mike Tomlin might say, Richardson needs to ‘do the routine things routinely,’ a consistency he has yet to achieve. McCarthy’s West Coast offense demands precision and timing, qualities that Richardson hasn’t consistently demonstrated.

While Richardson’s career could still be salvaged-much like Sam Darnold’s and even his current teammate Daniel Jones-he doesn’t appear to be the right fit for Pittsburgh. The Steelers, potentially in a quarterback crunch, might be tempted by the prospect of acquiring Richardson for a mid-to-late round pick. However, given McCarthy’s system and preferences, it’s expected that the Steelers will look elsewhere to solve their quarterback dilemma.