Fox's Jay Glazer on Steelers’ exit plan for Ben Roethlisberger, succession strategy at quarterback, Mason Rudolph's future

Tim Benz
Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021 6:09 a.m. | Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021 6:09 a.m.

Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger reacts to the crowd as he walks off the field after a victory over the Chicago Bears on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021, at Heinz Field.

Fox NFL analyst Jay Glazer is known to have a good connection with Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. A month ago, Glazer insisted that Tomlin doesn’t want to start over with a rookie quarterback next year if Ben Roethlisberger does retire at the end of 2021.

While appearing on “The Pat McAfee Show” Wednesday, Glazer also said that he doesn’t believe the job will be handed to Mason Rudolph.

Glazer went on to stress that he believes that Roethlisberger will be allowed to exit on his own terms.

"The Pittsburgh Steelers don't wanna start from scratch with a rookie QB next season.. there's gonna be a HUGE market for veteran QBs that are available" ~@JayGlazer #PatMcAfeeShowLIVE #JayKnew pic.twitter.com/na01vxdnYx

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 17, 2021

“It’s kind of up to Ben. Kind of like how it was with Drew Brees with the Saints, too. It’s like we’re not going to push him out. As long as he wants to go, he is just going to keep going,” said Glazer. “I think they were a little surprised he came back. But, no. If Ben wants to go, Ben is going to go. But, I don’t see him going back after this year.”

Glazer added that this isn’t a great draft for quarterbacks, further cementing his belief Tomlin will avoid the rookie route in 2022.

Instead, Glazer thinks the Steelers may be leaning toward grabbing a big name quarterback from another team via trade or free agency.

“It’s going to be more of these other, the Deshaun Watsons, if Russell (Wilson) will be out there, Aaron (Rodgers), I mean those type of guys,” Glazer said. “There’s going to be a huge market.”

So, in other words, don’t get those No. 8 Kenny Pickett jerseys in Black and Gold just yet. And start warming up to my idea that Aaron Rodgers should be in play for the Steelers after this season.

Podcast: Joe Rutter and Tim Benz talk about Sunday’s Steelers-Chargers game, last week’s tie with Detroit and the team’s many injury and illness concerns.

Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.