Pittsburgh, PA – June 19, 2025
The Aaron Rodgers experiment in Pittsburgh has barely begun, but inside the Steelers’ front office, contingency whispers are already growing louder. According to speculation fueled by Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon, the Steelers could make a play for Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield if Rodgers falters early or suffers an untimely injury.
It’s a scenario that once sounded far-fetched — and still might to some — but the logic isn’t without merit. Rodgers, 41, is playing on a one-year deal and coming off two seasons marred by injuries and inconsistency. The Steelers, determined to make a Super Bowl push in 2025, are well aware of how thin the margin for error is. Behind Rodgers, the QB room features Mason Rudolph and rookie Will Howard — neither of whom inspires full confidence should disaster strike.
Enter Baker Mayfield.
Mayfield, 30, is coming off a rollercoaster season in Tampa Bay where he tied for the league lead in interceptions (16), but also flashed aggressive playmaking and top-10 production in key stretches. Despite the turnovers, he remains one of the most fearless quarterbacks in the league — a trait that would fit snugly in Pittsburgh’s blue-collar identity.
"The Steelers and Vikings both come to mind in the event that either the Aaron Rodgers experiment blows up quickly or J.J. McCarthy gets off to a horrible start in Minnesota," Gagnon wrote. His take — designed to stir offseason buzz — raised eyebrows, but also a real question: Do the Steelers have a reliable fallback plan?
Pittsburgh still has over $31 million in cap space, and with head coach Mike Tomlin and GM Omar Khan pushing for a deep playoff run, having a proven backup ready to step in could be the smartest play of all. Mayfield is under contract with the Bucs, but if Tampa stumbles out of the gate or shifts to a rebuild, the door for a midseason deal could quietly open.
The Steelers haven’t commented publicly, and Rodgers remains locked in as the starter — for now. But in the ruthless calculus of NFL planning, Pittsburgh may be preparing for the unthinkable: a Rodgers collapse.
And if that happens, the "Bake Show" could make a surprise appearance in the Steel City.
