By Evan Massey

Copyright newsweek

Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers have gotten off to a solid start to the 2025 NFL season and currently hold a 2-1 record entering Week 4 against the Minnesota Vikings.

So far, the 41-year-old quarterback has looked good. He had a huge performance in Week 1 that was backed up by two lesser performances over the last couple of weeks. Despite the lower performances in each of the last two games, Rodgers has still lived up to what the Steelers signed him to be.

However, the fact of the matter is that the future Hall of Fame quarterback will likely be retiring following the 2025 campaign.

Read more: Jets Get Concerning Justin Fields News Before Facing Dolphins

With that being the likely scenario Pittsburgh is facing, a new quarterback will be needed next season. Will Howard could be that guy, but that scenario is far from a guarantee. Mason Rudolph isn’t the quarterback the Steelers will be planning their future around either.

Aaron Rodgers #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

That being said, it’s likely that the team will be looking into the 2026 NFL Draft class, free agency, or a potential trade to bring in a new starter to replace Rodgers. He could shock the NFL and decide to come back for one more season, but that should not even be considered as a potential future plan right now.

A new option has been suggested for Pittsburgh.

Owain Jones of Pro Football Network has suggested Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer as a potential option for the Steelers in his new mock draft.

“John Mateer, PFSN’s 2025 top returning quarterback, has seamlessly transitioned from Washington State to Oklahoma,” Jones wrote. “The dual-threat quarterback is a creative athlete and has a natural feeling for pressure and the speed to escape into space. Meanwhile, the improvisor also possesses the expansive arm talent that allows him to accurately fit balls into tight windows.”

Unfortunately, Mateer did just suffer an injury. He had to undergo hand surgery and will miss some game action. There have been no reports with a firm timeline for his return to the field.

So far this season with the Sooners, Mateer has played in all four games and has completed 67.4 percent of his pass attempts for 1,215 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions. In addition, he has run for 190 yards and five more scores.

Read more: Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin Delivers Strong Words About Aaron Rodgers

Taking Mateer in the first round might be a bit of a surprise. He’s also not talked about a lot as a potential top future NFL quarterback.

Despite that fact, his play style would fit well for Pittsburgh. It’s an option that should be monitored.

Expect to continue hearing speculation about life after Rodgers for the Steelers. Assuming he does indeed ride off into the sunset and retire after the 2025 season, a player like Mateer could be next up for Pittsburgh.

For more on the Pittsburgh Steelers and general NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.