The Pittsburgh Steelers have once again found themselves at the center of NFL offseason drama in 2026. On a recent episode of the Deebo and Joe podcast, former Steelers linebacker James Harrison stirred the pot by floating the idea of Cincinnati Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow joining Pittsburgh. The bold comments have ignited fresh controversy, adding another layer of chaos to an already unpredictable offseason as the organization continues to wait on a decision from Aaron Rodgers.
Following Harrison’s remarks, former Bengals cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones wasted no time firing back on his Politely Raw podcast. Jones, never one to mince words, delivered a fiery response that lived up to the show’s name and perfectly captured the intensity of the long-standing AFC North rivalry.
“This sht has gotta stop and it’s gotta stop now,” Jones declared. “And I called James and I told him ‘Hey, stop tampering with our f***** players.’”
Jones’ strong reaction comes as no surprise. As a former Bengal, he faced the Steelers twice a year throughout his career and remains fiercely loyal to his old team. He emphasized that Burrow is an “Ohio boy” who has no interest in heading to Pittsburgh, dismissing the notion outright while taking a shot at the city in the process.
The wild accusation of tampering has only amplified the buzz around Harrison’s comments. Even Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger, who appeared on the same podcast episode, downplayed the idea, calling it a “pipe dream.” While Roethlisberger’s tone was milder than Jones’, the consensus across both sides is clear: a Burrow-to-Steelers move is highly unlikely.
That hasn’t stopped the speculation. Harrison claimed he has been in regular contact with Burrow — talking weekly or bi-weekly — and even suggested the quarterback could approach Bengals ownership about a potential move to the black and gold. Jones quickly shut that down, reminding everyone of the deep-rooted rivalry that now seems to extend well beyond the field.
Meanwhile, the Steelers’ quarterback situation remains fluid. The team is still awaiting a final answer from Aaron Rodgers on his plans for 2026, mirroring the drawn-out saga from the previous offseason. With the NFL Draft approaching, Pittsburgh must weigh its options carefully. New head coach Mike McCarthy, who has a long history with Rodgers from their time together in Green Bay, is widely believed to be a factor in Rodgers potentially returning.
That leaves rookie quarterback Will Howard — the former Ohio State standout drafted by the Steelers in 2025 — in a holding pattern. McCarthy has spoken positively about Howard’s potential, but the franchise’s recent moves suggest it is not yet ready to fully turn the keys over to a young signal-caller without veteran support.
Burrow has every reason to feel frustrated in Cincinnati. He led the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance in 2022, falling just short against the Los Angeles Rams, but the team has struggled to build a consistent winner around him. Whether due to offensive line issues that left him under constant pressure or defensive shortcomings that placed even more burden on his shoulders, Burrow has often been forced to perform at an elite level despite the supporting cast.
Nevertheless, the idea of Burrow suiting up for the Steelers remains far-fetched. As Roethlisberger noted, it’s a fun thought experiment for fans but one that is unlikely to materialize. The Bengals have invested heavily in their franchise quarterback, and Jones made it abundantly clear that any talk of him leaving for a division rival needs to end immediately.
For now, the Steelers will continue navigating their quarterback uncertainty while the off-field barbs between Harrison and Jones keep the rivalry flames burning. Whether it’s Rodgers returning, Howard developing, or another veteran option emerging, Pittsburgh’s offseason promises to stay eventful — with or without Joe Burrow in the mix.
