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Could Mac Jones be part of a 2026 QB sweepstakes?

The present and future of the quarterback position for the Pittsburgh Steelers are still question marks. Future first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers is still unsigned after he led the team to their first division title in five years last season. While he could still return to the Steel City for his 22nd NFL season, there is the possibility that he could retire.

Should he retire, what can the Steelers do to replace him? While they have a veteran in Mason Rudolph and a promising second-year player in Will Howard, perhaps the organization might be more interested in adding another signal-caller who can make this team more competitive. Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton believes one option for Pittsburgh if Rodgers doesn’t return could be a trade for 49ers backup quarterback Mac Jones.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Mac Jones Make Some Sense

GettyMac Jones signed a two-year deal with the 49ers last offseason.

Here is what Moton had to say about how Jones could fit in with the Steelers should Rodgers decide to hang up his cleats:

“The Steelers may be able to acquire Jones with a second-round pick, which wouldn’t be a huge loss with their three third-rounders. Based on Jones’ recent production, he would be an upgrade over ninth-year veteran Mason Rudolph and second-year pro Will Howard, who’s yet to start in a game…(Mike McCarthy) could help Jones have a Sam Darnold-like career turnaround in Pittsburgh.”

Jones appears to be one of the best backup quarterbacks in the league. That much was proven last year when he went 5-3 as the 49ers’ starter in place of the injured Brock Purdy. In total, across the 11 games he played in, he posted an impressive passer rating of 97.4. With McCarthy’s proven abilities as a quarterback guru, perhaps he could help Jones have a rebirth as a full-time starter again.

Aaron Rodgers Is Still the Best Option for the Steelers

GettyAaron Rodgers has the highest passer rating in NFL history (102.2).

As good as Jones could be for Pittsburgh, Rodgers is the better option without a doubt. In fact, the four-time MVP and Super Bowl champion is the best option for the Steelers in 2026. He already has a year of experience under his belt playing in Pittsburgh, and he has 13 years of experience playing for new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy.

Between 2006 and 2018, while playing for McCarthy, Rodgers made seven Pro Bowls, earned two of his four career MVPs, and helped guide the team to eight consecutive playoff appearances. Of course, the Packers also beat the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.

In 2025, Rodgers, despite battling a fractured wrist and age, ended up recording 25 total touchdowns and just seven interceptions. His 94.8 passer rating was also very respectable. Should he decide to come back, the skill cast around him on offense could be even better thanks to the additions of two-time 1,000-yard receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher Rico Dowdle. An answer on Rodgers’ future could very well come in the next couple of weeks before the draft.

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