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Cleveland.com’s Irie Harris named Russell Wilson the No. 3 free agent quarterback for the 2026 NFL offseason.

The jury is still out on whether or not the Pittsburgh Steelers will have future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers back under center in 2026 for what would be his 22nd career season. After leading Pittsburgh to its first division title in five years, Rodgers may feel ready to hang up his cleats.

If he decides to take that route, the Steelers will then need to figure out who their replacement for him should be. While veteran backup Mason Rudolph and second-year player Will Howard are under contract, the team might want a better player under center. Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton believes a potential reunion with former quarterback Russell Wilson might be an option.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have Familiarity With Russell Wilson

GettyRussell Wilson spent the 2024 season with former head coach Mike Tomlin and the Steelers.

Here is what Moton wrote about the idea of Wilson possibly linking back up with the Steelers should Rodgers decide to retire:

“This isn’t the most appealing option for the Steelers, yet this signing makes sense if Russell Wilson can inject a spark into their offense as he did in the middle of the 2024 campaign…He’s a safe option if the team doesn’t want to give up draft capital for younger signal-callers like Mac Jones and J.J. McCarthy.”

After being bounced from the Mile High City in the offseason of 2024, Wilson found his way to Pittsburgh. In 11 starts for the team, the former Super Bowl champion went 6-5 as the team’s starter. He threw 16 touchdowns and five interceptions while posting a passer rating of 95.6. His numbers were fine, but he wasn’t good enough to prevent the team from having a late-season collapse. After joining the New York Giants in 2025, Wilson went 0-3 in three starts with the team.

Aaron Rodgers Is a Clear Upgrade Over Russell Wilson

GettyAaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson have split their 10 meetings with each other.

Even though he is five years older, Rodgers is a better option than Wilson. In fact, that is how it has always been. Despite splitting their 10 all-time meetings with each other, and although both have made 10 Pro Bowls, the 42-year-old Rodgers is still superior to Wilson. While both players’ careers have spiraled downward since they left their original teams, Rodgers has proven that he can still play consistently at a high level. Look no further than last season with the Steelers.

The only NFL quarterback with at least 400 career touchdown passes and a passer rating over 100, Rodgers has the opportunity to reunite with his old head coach from his Green Bay days, Mike McCarthy. Together, the two helped run one of the league’s most prolific offenses for years. That’s part of the reason why they were able to take home a Super Bowl.

While it didn’t necessarily work out with the New York Jets a couple of seasons ago, Rodgers has proven that he can return to playing great football. While Wilson has had some fun in garbage time or on rebuilding teams, his best days aren’t exactly ahead of him.

Tim Lindsey A Chicago-area native, Tim Lindsey has covered the world of sports through a variety of different lenses. More specifically, he has been an NFL writer for sites such as Sports Illustrated and PFSN. Notable teams like the Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, and Pittsburgh Steelers have been a major point of emphasis for the longtime writer in the past. More about Tim Lindsey