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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is on contract with the team through 2026 with his fifth year option still available to pickup for 2027.
The lingering question circling the Pittsburgh Steelers is whether Aaron Rodgers will return for another season.
Rodgers sounded confident after signing with Pittsburgh for the 2025 season that it would be his last. However, after ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Rodgers felt “refreshed” by his lone season with the Steelers, the narrative began to shift toward the possibility of a comeback in 2026.
“I fully expect Rodgers to sign with the Steelers within the next month,” Steelers correspondent for the “Pat McAfee Show,” Mark Kaboly, said.
But on Feb. 19, CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala told 93.7 The Fan that a Rodgers return seemed unlikely.
“Having spoken to people who were around him, who have been around him, most everyone that I’ve spoken to who has been around him feels that the chance that he comes back to play is minuscule,” Kinkhabwala said. “In conversations with people who were around him all year who were with him when he was leaving the Steelers when the season was over, all of those people that I spoke to said that it seems far more likely that he is done than that he is going to return.”
If Rodgers is indeed done, Pittsburgh will likely be in the market for a quarterback this offseason.
AFC South QB Set to Ask For Trade
One quarterback who could be available via trade is Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson.
“Assuming his vision issues are resolved after his freak orbital bone injury, look for him to seek a trade. There has been no request just yet, according to team sources, but it is beginning to feel inevitable,” ESPN’s Stephen Holder reported.
If the Colts ultimately decide to place Richardson on the trade market, Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay believes he could be a best-fit candidate for the Steelers under new head coach Mike McCarthy.
“Richardson would be the ultimate dice roll for the Steelers. He possesses more upside than any other quarterback who the team could reasonably acquire this offseason — including the trade market, free agency and draft — and still has the potential to develop into a top-tier NFL starter if all goes right,” Kay wrote.
“While Richardson has that sky-high ceiling, he also has one of the lower floors of any potential starter in the league.”
Anthony Richardson Would Be Feast-or-Famine Option
Richardson has been in the NFL for just three seasons after being selected fourth overall by the Colts. However, he has appeared in just 17 of a possible 51 games, making 15 starts and going 8-7. He has thrown for 2,400 yards, 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions while completing 50.6% of his passes.
“Regardless, riding with Richardson and seeing if he can figure things out is a low-risk, high-reward maneuver that could set the stage for a successful future in Pittsburgh,” Kay added.
“Whether that’s with Richardson leading the way as their long-term starter or his failures opening the door to land a franchise passer in the 2027 draft remains to be seen, but the Steelers would at least finally have a viable answer to their longstanding quarterback woes.”
That’s the gamble. Richardson represents the ultimate feast-or-famine scenario. Either he develops into the high-upside talent he was drafted to become and keeps Pittsburgh competitive, or his struggles position the Steelers to pursue their next franchise quarterback in the following draft.
Shane Shoemaker Shane Shoemaker is a sports journalist covering college football and the NFL for Heavy.com. His work has also appeared in The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, USA TODAY, and ClutchPoints, along with high school sports coverage for the Marion Tribune. More about Shane Shoemaker
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