Feb. 7, 2026, 6:04 p.m. ET
A potential 2026 quarterback option for the Pittsburgh Steelers is being made available, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
On Saturday, Schefter reported that the Atlanta Falcons were expected to release veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins before the start of the new league year in March, giving the Steelers a solid backup plan if Aaron Rodgers chooses not to return to Pittsburgh in 2026.
Per Schefter, Cousins’ $67.9 million due in 2027 would become guaranteed if he remained on the Falcons’ roster at the start of the new league year in March.
Cousins signed with the Falcons in 2024 after his outstanding six-year stint with the Minnesota Vikings. Atlanta, however, would draft quarterback Michael Penix in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft just one month after signing Cousins, blindsiding the veteran QB.
While Cousins wasn’t as successful with the Falcons as he was with Minnesota, he presents the Steelers with a potentially solid stop-gap option if all other 2026 quarterback plans fall through.
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