Report: Pittsburgh Steelers expected to offer Sam Darnold

Sam Darnold will have no shortage of suitors when free agency opens up this week. And according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be among the teams making an offer to the 27-year-old quarterback.

“Many around the league believe Darnold will wind up in Seattle, but Pittsburgh is doing its due diligence on any potential options ahead of the new league year,” Russini wrote on X.

Russini reported earlier on Sunday that the Steelers have interest in re-signing Justin Fields, so it’s clear Pittsburgh is doing its homework on multiple options. But Darnold will be the prize, coming off his best season to date. Darnold threw for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions on 66.2% passing in his first season with the Minnesota Vikings, leading the team to a 14-3 regular season record.

Now, Darnold has a chance to cash in. But it appears the Vikings won’t be going all-in on him for 2025 and beyond. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Darnold isn’t expected to return to the Vikings after another opening was created in Seattle, via now-former Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith being traded to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Steelers pursuing Sam Darnold in free agency?

In theory, Darnold would be an upgrade over Fields and Russell Wilson — the Steelers’ quarterback room this past season. Pittsburgh has been searching for stability at the position since Ben Roethlisberger‘s retirement after the 2021 season, and Darnold could represent a long-term option. Other teams — such as the Seahawks and New York Giants — could be a landing spot for Darnold as well.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin had this to say when asked about the team’s 2025 quarterback plans: “Obviously, we don’t have a quarterback under contract, and so we got some major discussions there,” Tomlin said in January. “It was a really good experience with the three quarterbacks that were on our roster this year, individually and collectively.

“We are certainly open to considering those guys [Fields and Wilson], but there’s a lot of work ahead of us, and the major work obviously, starts first and foremost with just understanding what our options are, what the field looks like in free agency, what the draft pool looks like, and then beginning the process in terms of decision-making based on known variables.”