The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering another offseason with a massive question mark at the quarterback position-and once again, it centers around Aaron Rodgers.
When Mike Tomlin stepped down following the 2025 season, it felt like the end of an era in more ways than one. Rodgers had joined the Steelers largely because of Tomlin, drawn by the coach’s leadership and vision. So naturally, Tomlin’s departure sparked widespread belief that Rodgers would follow him out the door.
But then came the curveball: Pittsburgh hired Mike McCarthy as its next head coach. And that changes the calculus.
According to Ian Rapoport, McCarthy’s arrival reopens the door for Rodgers to return in 2026. The two have a long history together from their time in Green Bay, a partnership that produced a Super Bowl title but also ended on rocky terms. Still, sources say their relationship has improved significantly in recent years-enough that a reunion in Pittsburgh is at least on the table.
That said, this isn’t a done deal by any stretch. Washington Post’s Mark Maske reports that while McCarthy’s hiring makes a return more plausible, Rodgers’ decision to keep playing-or not-is a separate issue entirely.
This isn’t just about who’s coaching. It’s about where Rodgers is mentally and physically after a long, storied career.
And if you’ve been paying attention, the signs have been pointing toward retirement.
For weeks leading up to the end of the season, the buzz around the league was that 2025 might be Rodgers’ final ride. Even ESPN’s Lisa Salters reported during a Monday Night Football broadcast in Week 15 that Rodgers told the production crew he was “probably retiring.” That kind of candid moment, especially coming from a player as guarded as Rodgers, tends to carry weight.
Now 42 years old, Rodgers has little left to prove. A first-round pick back in 2005, he’s racked up MVPs, a Super Bowl ring, and over two decades of NFL experience.
He signed a massive four-year extension with the Packers in 2018 worth $134 million, then followed it up in 2022 with a three-year, $150 million deal that included $101 million guaranteed. But after an Achilles tear just four snaps into the 2023 season with the Jets, his football future was thrown into doubt.
Rodgers made a remarkable comeback in 2024, returning to start for the Jets, but New York ultimately released him after the season with a June 1 designation. That opened the door for his one-year stint in Pittsburgh.
And to be fair, Rodgers didn’t just show up-he produced. In 2025, he started 16 games for the Steelers, completing 65.7% of his passes for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions. Those are solid numbers for any quarterback, let alone one coming off a major injury at 41.
The Steelers, for their part, would reportedly welcome Rodgers back with open arms if he decides to run it back for one more season. But the tone around the team and Rodgers himself suggests we might be nearing the final chapter.
So where does that leave Pittsburgh? In limbo, at least for now.
McCarthy gives them a familiar face and a proven leader. But until Rodgers makes his decision, the quarterback situation remains unsettled.
This offseason could shape the next few years of Steelers football. If Rodgers walks away, they’ll need to pivot-possibly to the draft, possibly to the trade market, or maybe to someone already on the roster. But if he stays, and if that Rodgers-McCarthy reunion clicks, Pittsburgh could have one more run left in the tank.
Either way, the clock is ticking. And all eyes are on No. 12.