Steelers and Trevor Lawrence debunked rumor takes weird turn

Last week there was a big news story in the NFL suggesting the Pittsburgh Steelers had inquired, and suggested the potential of significant draft capital being included, in a trade for quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

The report stemmed from the tweet from Ryan Burr, who has a history in the sports media realm:

Steelers would deal this years #1 & #2, but with draft in Pittsburgh next year I would be very surprised if next years #1 is even on the table. https://t.co/g7VswZYwOn

— Ryan Burr (@RyanBurr) February 13, 2025

Since this news made waves for both the Jaguars and Steelers fan bases, it has been debunked multiple times by multiple people. The most recent to say the report was blatantly false was Lawrence himself. While being on the Up & Adams show with Kay Adams, Lawrence said he had no idea where the rumor started, who it came from, or why it was created.

But he’s happy in Jacksonville, with his no-trade clause in his contract.

Check out the video below:

.@Trevorlawrencee sets the record straight on the Steelers trade inquiry 👀🔊@Jaguars @AdamSchefter @heykayadams | #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/XBK65GQsZ5

— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) February 17, 2025

After all this, you can’t help but wonder the reason behind this rumor getting started. As I stated earlier, Burr is not just a fan of the team who doesn’t have a reputation on the line. He is a member of the media, he now covers golf, and stood by his reports of the Steelers placing the call. It is at this point you have to wonder why the rumor was circulated.

While Lawrence was in the dark about the reports until his agent contacted him, often times rumors like this are spread for a general reason. Maybe it was the Steelers trying to get a quarterback like Justin Fields to the negotiating table. Maybe it was someone in the Jaguars organization, one who doesn’t have a General Manager at the moment, who said in jest the Steelers called and inquired about trading for the quarterback.

You may disagree, but I have always believed where there is smoke, there’s fire, and that would even include rumors like the Lawrence report. The question isn’t “Will it happen?” but “Why did it even get started?”

The fact the Jaguars don’t have a GM at the moment makes this situation even weirder than the initial report. I wouldn’t be shocked if Omar Khan picked up the phone to ask, but who did he call? Who would have fielded that inquiry? Lawrence didn’t even know in the above interview. I wouldn’t be shocked if Khan called, and I wouldn’t be shocked if the Jaguars said, “No thanks” and hung up the phone.

Inquiring minds want to know, and by minds I’m speaking only for myself, but we’re unlikely to ever know the real reason behind the genesis of this weird rumor.

Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the rest of the offseason and get ready for the new league year in March.