The more things change, the more they stay the same for the Pittsburgh Steelers. A massive alteration came to the franchise in the form of a new head coach for the first time in two decades, as Mike McCarthy was hired after Mike Tomlin stepped down. However, for the second straight year, the Steelers are waiting patiently for an answer from Aaron Rodgers.
The four-time NFL MVP signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh last offseason with the intention of 2025 being his final year. However, he left the door
open for a return to the team in 2026 after the Steelers won the AFC North.
Speaking at the celebration of life for former Packers team president Bob Harlan, McCarthy told Harlan’s son, legendary broadcaster Kevin Harlan, that he does not know what Rodgers’ decision will be.
“It’d be a great story,” McCarthy said via Rob Demovsky of ESPN. “I don’t know [if Rodgers is returning to Pittsburgh]. And I would love to tell everybody breaking news.”
McCarthy added how cool it is to see how far Rodgers has come since he was a rookie in Green Bay.
“It’s really cool to see Aaron at 42,” McCarthy said. “To see a young man at 22 and all that he’s been able to accomplish and where he’s at in his personal life in trying to make this decision. He’s in a really good place.”
Rodgers and McCarthy were in Green Bay together from 2006-18, leading the Packers to a win over Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLV. Should Rodgers decide not to return to the Steelers, it would leave the team with two quarterbacks – Mason Rudolph and Will Howard – while also increasing the odds of Pittsburgh taking a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!
- NFL mock draft has Steelers making controversial QB decision
- Steelers sign former Chicago Bears running back
- Aaron Rodgers, Will Howard appear at charity flag football event
- Steelers projected to take star Big Ten receiver in latest mock draft
- Pittsburgh Steelers sign former Cowboys offensive lineman
