The Pittsburgh Steelers had a formal interview with Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at the 2026 NFL Combine, a source confirmed to Steelers Now. Chris Halicke of DK Pittsburgh Sports first reported the news.
Simpson is the lone quarterback considered to be a first-round option for the Steelers, who are picking at No. 21 overall.
Simpson will be the top quarterback prospect throwing at the combine at Lucas Oil Stadium, as Indiana quarterback and presumptive No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza will skip throwing at the combine in favor of his on-campus pro day in Bloomington, Indiana.
While Mendoza's draft stock appears to be a lock, Simpson's has been much more variable. Simpson was ranked as high as the No. 3 prospect in the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus big board during the season, his first as Alabama's starter. But since then, he's steadily fallen to his current standing of No. 30.
The Steelers have been seeking a long-term answer at the quarterback position, going with a series of stop-gaps after missing with first-round pick Kenny Pickett in 2022.
The team is pursuing Aaron Rodgers to return as its starting quarterback for 2026, but that wouldn't necessarily take the team out of the running to draft a quarterback as high as the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Rodgers has already mentored one future franchise quarterback, when he helped the Green Bay Packers develop Jordan Luck after drafting him in the first round as Rodgers' heir apparent, and the Steelers could be hoping some of that success rubs off on a future quarterback in Pittsburgh, as well.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers Meet With Potential First-Round QB at Combine
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