Former Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger Tabbed as Option for Jets

Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger could be an option to replace Aaron Rodgers as the Jets quarterback. Yes, you read that right. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN went through potential options that the Jets could look at with Rodgers on the shelf, and Roethlisberger’s name came across as a wild-card candidate for the Jets.

“Wild cards include retired quarterbacks such as Ben Roethlisberger, Tom Brady and — wait for it — Blake Bortles, who went to the 2017 AFC Championship Game in Jacksonville with now-Jets playcaller Nathaniel Hackett as his offensive coordinator,” Fowler wrote.

It’s an odd note, considering that Roethlisberger retired from the NFL as a member of the Steelers over a year ago. He now hosts a podcast, Footbahlin, and seems entrenched in the retirement part of his life after football. But there’s always a potential itch for these guys to return, and Roethlisberger would be a shocking option. The Jets will likely just run with Zach Wilson and bring a veteran in as another potential option.

RELATED: Florio: Steelers Could be QB Trade Partner With Jets

This situation seems to be floating around the Steelers a bit right now. Yesterday, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk noted that Pittsburgh seems like the place where the Jets could pluck someone via trade, whether that ends up as Mason Rudolph or Mitch Trubisky.

Rudolph could make sense, but Trubisky likely starts in that situation. As for the Steelers, they just Trubisky to an extension, so the trade makes little sense. If New York wants Rudolph that badly and they blow them away with the draft compensation, then I am sure the Steelers would look at that and make a move.

Just like with the Roethlisberger news, expect the Jets to move forward with Wilson as the guy, while potentially bringing in a veteran option that can provide them a certain floor. Wilson did help lead them to a win over the Bills, and they hope he can lead them into the playoffs with a solid roster around him.