The Pittsburgh Steelers made a bold move over the weekend, hiring Mike McCarthy as their next head coach - a decision that could have ripple effects far beyond the sideline. While the hire brings a seasoned, Super Bowl-winning coach into the fold, it also reopens the door for a potential reunion that would dominate headlines across the league: Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers hasn’t committed to returning for another NFL season, and speculation around his future has swirled for some time now. The 2025 season was widely thought to be his last ride, but with McCarthy now at the helm in Pittsburgh, the calculus may have changed. There’s real history here - and not just the kind you find in a stat sheet.
McCarthy and Rodgers go way back. The two were paired in Green Bay for over a decade, with McCarthy taking over as head coach in 2006, just a year after the Packers drafted Rodgers.
Together, they built one of the league’s most consistently competitive teams during that stretch. The duo made the playoffs eight times and, most notably, hoisted the Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl XLV.
That kind of shared success doesn't just fade into the background.
Now, the Steelers are leaving the door open for Rodgers to walk through it one more time. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, “I do believe that if Aaron Rodgers were coming back to play for one coach in 2026, it would be Mike McCarthy.”
That’s not nothing. Rodgers has always been calculated about his decisions, and if he’s considering one final chapter, the chance to reunite with a coach he knows - and has won with - could be a compelling factor.
Of course, there are no guarantees. McCarthy’s arrival doesn’t mean Rodgers is packing his bags for Pittsburgh.
But it certainly improves the odds if the Steelers are serious about bringing him back for a final run. And make no mistake - if Rodgers does return, even on a one-year deal, it would be a game-changer for this franchise.
Without Rodgers, the Steelers’ quarterback situation becomes a lot more uncertain. McCarthy would be stepping into a room that lacks a clear long-term answer at the position. A Rodgers reunion, even if it’s just for a season, would give Pittsburgh a bridge - a proven veteran under center while they evaluate their future options and potentially groom a successor.
So while the headlines will focus on McCarthy’s coaching resume, don’t overlook what this move could mean at quarterback. The Steelers might have just added more than a head coach - they might have added a reason for Aaron Rodgers to run it back one more time.