Timeline of Steelers’ QB blunders in search to find next Ben Roethlisberger

Terry Bradshaw and Ben Roethlisberger’s onstage embrace in the course of the opening night time of the 2026 NFL Draft It was nothing brief of ironic. It took the Steelers 20 years to find Bradshaw’s long-term successor in Roethlisberger, and regardless of their efforts to not repeat historical past, Pittsburgh continues to be in pursuit of Big Ben’s inheritor obvious.

Pittsburgh’s lack of ability to find its next long-term quarterback has contributed to the ongoing saga concerning Aaron Rodgerswhose plans for the upcoming season stay a thriller. Instead of having a concrete plan at quarterback for the upcoming season, the Steelers proceed to anticipate the 42-year-old Rodgers to make up his thoughts.

In the interim, the Steelers added one other quarterback to the room after they chosen Drew Allar with the eighty fifth total choose. The choose drew skepticism from Roethlisbergerwho stated that he was extra impressed with Will Howard’s tape popping out of school. Howard and Allar will now be in direct competitors in Pittsburgh.

How did the Steelers get right here? To find the reply, let’s check out every of the crew’s vital quarterback strikes over the previous decade.

Steelers move on Lamar Jackson

By 2018, it was clear that Roethlisberger was properly into the again 9 of his profession. He had overtly contemplated retirement after the 2016 season, which compelled the Steelers to draft Josh Dobbs in the fourth spherical of the 2017 draft. But whereas Dobbs had potential, he was merely drafted for depth and was by no means in the dialog to be Roethlisberger’s successor.

In the 2018 draft, the Steelers had been in prime place to draft somebody who might have been Roethlisberger’s successor: Lamar Jackson. But as an alternative of drafting Jackson, the Steelers chosen security Terrell Edmunds with the twenty eighth total choose. Jackson was chosen 4 spots later by the Ravens.

The Steelers ended up deciding on Mason Rudolph in the third spherical of that 12 months’s draft, however like Dobbs, he has additionally by no means gotten a official likelihood to be the Steelers’ long-term quarterback.

Promoting Matt Canada to offensive coordinator

Following the 2020 season, the Steelers principally determined that the Roethlisberger period was coming to shut. The crew began to make choices that echoed that sentiment, together with the alternative of Randy Fichtner (a Roethlisberger favourite) with Matt Canada, a former school offensive coordinator who spent the 2020 season because the Steelers’ quarterback’s coach.

At the time, Canada’s promotion was met with optimism. He was credited with serving to Roethlisberger and Pittsburgh’s offense take pleasure in a quick begin in 2020 that culminated in an 11-0 begin. Canada had interviewed with the Dolphins concerning their offensive coordinator opening earlier than the Steelers promoted him.

It did not take lengthy, nevertheless, to understand that Canada wasn’t going to work as an NFL offensive coordinator. The Steelers’ offense largely struggled in 2021, particularly early in video games, which led to a number of livid late-game comeback makes an attempt by Roethlisberger. Shortly after the season concluded, it was reported that Pittsburgh’s late-game success on offense was a byproduct of Roethlisberger going rogue and principally scrapping Canada’s recreation plan.

It would solely worsen from there.

The Trubisky/Pickett acquisitions

Following Roethlisberger’s retirement after the 2021 season, the expectation was that the Steelers had been going to signal a veteran quarterback in free company in addition to probably deciding on a quarterback in the course of the draft. The Steelers ended up doing each, however that turned out to be a mistake.

The NFL’s authorized tampering interval was barely underway when the Steelers got here to phrases with former Bears‘No. 1 total choose Mitch Trubisky on a two-year deal. Pittsburgh then chosen former Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett with the twentieth total choose.

Trubisky went into the season because the crew’s beginning quarterback, however he was benched halfway via the fourth recreation of the season. Pickett, to the roaring approval of Steelers followers, entered the sport and scored two fast touchdowns on the bottom. But his three interceptions proved pricey because the Steelers’ comeback bid got here up brief.

Pickett made his first profession begin the next week in what was an embarrassing 38-3 loss to the Bills in Buffalo. At that time, although, it appeared that the Steelers had been dedicated to beginning over with Pickett and utilizing the 2022 season as a bridge.

Pickett toughened the everyday rising pains related to rookie quarterbacks. Not serving to issues was Canada’s predictable offense, which was called out by Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt throughout a midseason loss to Cincinnati that dropped Pittsburgh’s report to 3-7.

After that loss, the Steelers summoned the decision that was a trademark throughout Mike Tomlin’s 19-year tenure with the crew. Pittsburgh received six of its seven video games, with Pickett profitable his closing 5 begins in video games that he completed. The Steelers missed the playoffs, however they secured their nineteenth consecutive non-losing season. More importantly, Pittsburgh had appeared to find its new franchise quarterback in Pickett, whose late-season heroics included game-winning landing passes in opposition to the Raiders and Ravens.

Starting over

Looking again, the 2023 season was a important turning level in the Steelers’ quarterback journey. It was a tumultuous season that led to drastic modifications to the roster, quarterback included.

Week 1 was a foreshadowing of issues to come for the 2023 season and extra particularly Pickett, who entered the 12 months with large expectations. The Steelers had been drubbed that day by the eventual NFC champion 49erswho totally outplayed Pittsburgh in a 30-7 win.

The Steelers responded by profitable six of their next eight video games, however the offense continued to underperform. Things lastly got here to a head after an unpleasant loss in Cleveland, when former Steelers working again Najee Harris sounded off about Pittsburgh’s predictable offense.

Less than 48 hours later, the Steelers fired Canada and quickly changed him with working backs coach Eddie Faulkner with quarterback coach Mike Sullivan stepping in as play-caller. Pittsburgh responded with a highway win over the Bengals that included one of Pickett’s greatest video games as a professional.

Against the Cardinals Per week later, Pickett was on the verge of main the Steelers to a go-ahead rating when he sustained an damage that modified the trajectory of his profession. With Pickett sidelined, Trubisky got here in and was ineffective, which contributed to an embarrassing 24-10 loss.

Inexplicably, Trubisky remained in the beginning lineup for Pittsburgh’s next two video games: one other embarrassing house loss to the Patriots and a highway defeat in opposition to the Colts that dropped the Steelers to 7-7.

At that time, Tomlin lastly turned the offense over to Rudolph, who performed the perfect soccer of his profession. Rudolph led the Steelers to three straight wins to shut out the 12 months. The Steelers completed 10-7 and captured a playoff berth.

While Pickett was wholesome late in the season, Tomlin as an alternative surrounded the new hand, which led to Rudolph being the primary Steelers quarterback to begin in a playoff recreation since Roethlisberger. Rudoph had his moments in opposition to the Bills, however he and the Steelers got here up brief in one other early playoff exit.

That loss prolonged the Steelers’ streak of seasons with no playoff win to seven. In an effort to shortly finish that drought, Tomlin and the Steelers determined to transfer ahead with veteran quarterbacks. They acquired Russell Wilsonthen traded Pickett to Philadelphia. They then traded for former Bears first-round choose Justin Fields.

Pickett’s time in Pittsburgh is controversial. While he clearly had his shortcomings, Pickett wasn’t put in the perfect place to succeed. He had a transitional offensive line, an offensive coordinator that was fired throughout his second season, and receivers who generally both didn’t finish out their routes or quit on them altogether. Pickett additionally most likely would have been higher served having a veteran quarterback as a mentor as opposed to somebody (Trubisky) who was making an attempt to revive his profession.

More QB turnover

Pittsburgh’s plan for 2024 was to have Wilson because the starter with Fields backing up him. That plan shortly modified, nevertheless, when Wilson sustained an damage simply earlier than the beginning of coaching camp.

Fields instantly turned heads throughout coaching camp and continued to impress in the course of the season. He helped the Steelers get off to a 4-2 begin that was predicated on taking care of the ball, controlling the clock and placing the protection in favorable conditions.

Despite that early success, Tomlin turned to Wilson forward of Pittsburgh’s Week 7 recreation in opposition to the Jets and Rodgers. Wilson outplayed Rodgers that night time and would find yourself profitable six of his first seven begins. At that point, it appeared that Tomlin had made the proper determination.

Wilson’s play returned late in the season, nevertheless. His mobility wasn’t what it as soon as was, and it had develop into more and more clear that his passing arsenal had been decreased to moon balls and checkdowns.

The Steelers began 10-3 earlier than dropping their closing 5 video games that included one other early playoff exit, this time in the arms of the rival Ravens.

Starting over, once more

The Steelers rebooted their quarterback room as soon as once more in 2025. They selected not to re-sign Wilson and misplaced Fields to the Jets after providing him a reportedly underwhelming contract. Pittsburgh did retain Rudolph after signing him to a two-year deal.

During the offseason, the Steelers had been tabbed as a possible touchdown spot for Rodgers after the Jets introduced their plans to launch him. It took some time, however Rodgers lastly got here on board simply earlier than the beginning of minicamp.

Rodgers’ late arrival in Pittsburgh led to a slow start for the offense. The unit ultimately discovered its means, nevertheless, whereas serving to the Steelers win their first AFC North division title since 2020. The unit’s shortcomings — most notably their lack of expertise at receiver and Rodgers’ lack of mobility and rising want not to get hit — had been uncovered throughout a 30-6 loss to Houston in the AFC wild card spherical, a loss that in the end marked the tip of Tomlin’s 19-year run in Pittsburgh.

What’s next?

In hindsight, it is honest to say that the Steelers’ lack of endurance with Pickett and their dependence on veteran quarterbacks in current years was a byproduct of Tomlin wanting to finish the playoff win drought whereas maximizing his remaining seasons in Pittsburgh. That route in the end proved to be shortsighted and unsuccessful.

The Steelers’ profitable seasons streak, whereas spectacular, typically prevented them from being in higher positions to draft a possible franchise quarterback. In that vein, Tomlin might be proper when he stated just lately that he felt a change was crucial for each he and the Steelers.

With Mike McCarthy now in Pittsburgh, the Steelers have a coach who’s dedicated to discovering the franchise’s long-term resolution at quarterback. McCarthy has praised the potential of Howard and goes to make investments quite a bit of power into Allar.

McCarthy was employed in half to find the Steelers’ long-term quarterback. And whereas the crew is not ruling out a Rodgers return, it is changing into clear that Pittsburgh is extra dedicated to discovering Roethlisberger’s successor than they had been the earlier 4 years.