Baltimore Ravens legend Joe Flacco is one of the most high-profile quarterbacks left on the open market after serving as a quality backup over the past two years.
Flacco managed to put himself back on the NFL map in 2023 after having some big games with the Cleveland Browns, and he was once again a strong backup for the Indianapolis Colts in 2024.
One team that could take a swing on Flacco is the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have yet to get an answer from Aaron Rodgers, although it appears they might be closer after he met with the team on Friday.
With that situation still up in the air, Steelers Wire’s Andrew Vasquez thinks Pittsburgh should pivot to Flacco if the Rodgers situation falls through, or if they simply get tired of waiting for the future Hall of Famer to make a decision.
As Aaron Rodgers continues to take the Steel City faithful on more twists and turns every day, the Pittsburgh Steelers may have no choice but to roll with QB Mason Rudolph as the starting quarterback for the 2025 season. With Russell Wilson likely out the door, and Rodgers potentially shooting himself in the foot with this waiting game, former Ravens QB Joe Flacco may be the perfect backup for Rudolph. Many stomachs may turn at the thought of Flacco donning the Black and Gold, but it has to be better than rolling out QB Skylar Thompson behind Rudolph in 2025—right?
We’ve assumed all along that if the Steelers fell short of acquiring Rodgers that they would just keep Russell Wilson. However, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero said on “The Rich Eisen Show” that he would be “very surprised” if Wilson is brought back.
“Nothing shocks me, but I would be very surprised if Russell Wilson, under any circumstances, is back in Pittsburgh,” Pelissero said.
Knowing that, we could be looking at a situation in which Mason Rudolph, who was brought back after one year with the Tennessee Titans, becomes the starter should Rodgers choose the Giants or retirement, which would necessitate Pittsburgh bringing in a good backup.
That’s where Flacco would come in. He would give the Steelers another veteran to turn to if Rudolph doesn’t pan out. Unfortunately, neither player figures to put the Steelers over the top to a playoff win or more.
After everything Steelers fans have been through, from Justin Fields, to Wilson, to Rodgers, to being one-and-done in five straight playoff trips, it would be terribly disappointing to begin 2025 with a Rudolph and Flacco pairing. Such a scenario would make Pittsburgh drafting a quarterback an absolute must.
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