Whenever Aaron Rodgers‘ career ends, he will officially retire as a member of the Packers. His current team could spend another season with him atop the QB depth chart, though. 
It was reported late last month the Steelers would be open to re-signing Rodgers for 2026. The future Hall of Famer took a one-year deal to head to Pittsburgh, and he stated before the campaign began he expected to hang up his cleats once the season ended. If a different approach were to be taken, the Steelers would welcome it.
Taking previous reports one step further, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports writes the team “hopes” Rodgers will continue playing next season. Pittsburgh entered the year without a long-term succession plan in place under center, but a second season with Rodgers at the helm would give the team more time to establish one. Not long from his 42nd birthday, the four-time MVP has given the Steelers a consistent presence at the QB spot, especially compared to their other post-Ben Roethlisberger passers.
Rodgers was not a lock to play in 2025, and he spoke with other teams (including the Vikings, reported to be his preferred destination) before joining the Steelers. He has delivered strong showings across the board while remaining healthy and leading the team to a 5-4 record. Provided Rodgers continues to enjoy a productive campaign, it would come as little surprise if a mutual interest were to emerge regarding a deal covering 2026.
The Steelers allowed Russell Wilson and Justin Fields to depart in free agency, reuniting with Mason Rudolph along the way. He was made aware of Pittsburgh’s Rodgers interest but signed a two-year deal nevertheless. The Steelers also added a developmental arm in the form of sixth-rounder rookie Will Howard. The Ohio State product has yet to see any time on the field, and that is likely to remain the case with Rodgers and Rudolph healthy.
Pittsburgh’s defense played a key role in the team’s win against the Colts but in general the unit has not lived up to expectations. If that continues, the Steelers’ offense will face increased pressure. Rodgers has done well to date, and Jones cautions the team’s approach will depend on how the coming weeks play out. At this point, though, efforts to continue Rodgers’ career for one more year can be expected after the current campaign comes to an end.
Why?
He’s been very good on the field. He’s been just as good if not better in the locker room according to everyone associated with the team. He’s seems to be really enjoying himself. And the Steelers don’t have approaching a better future option.
And the Steelers are not the Jets.
Monkeys Uncle- How about now?
He played like a guy who should be on a beach somewhere rather than someone they should want back. That’s ok, everyone is entitled to a bad game once in a while.
But to watch him obviously trying to avoid taking hits was noteworthy.
Bad O-line. No receiving options past Metcalf, porous secondary and aging stars like Cam and Watt. And above all, an incredibly poor offensive coordinator calling the shots
Why would he want to come back here?
Nothing changes
103 qb rating before tonight’s game. Why wouldn’t you want to bring that back?
They’re not going to win with him. That’s why.
It takes other positions around him to win..
They aren’t going to win with a free agent or rookie qb either. This is the best and most economical option.
Rodgers has been the farthest thing from the problem this year for the team. They weren’t gonna go beyond a first round loss with or without him
Uncle Mike, the Steelers cannot find a decent QB, they just love the old broken down type. Steelers are going to be mediocre for a long time haha. Love it
Well although Rodgers implosion was inevitable even I couldn’t have foreseen just how fast it would happen after my post. His behavior is just becoming too erratic to be tolerated for long in any one place. Hence the why.
Mike what behavior?
His time with the Packers was cut short due to disagreements with the Front Office. He had years to go and was not contacted to renegotiate and gain cap space at a pivotal moment and that cost them big time. The same Front Office bungled the Adams trade. Moving Adams while he was still in his prime and still producing now. Imagine if they had him on the roster still.
Goes to NYJ who was quick to move on from him in favor of Justin Fields? Forgive me if I don’t trust their judgement on talent.
He’s a weirdo for sure but he has produced all season. Half of his INTs are literally from balls bouncing off of the receivers hands or being wrestled away from the receiver mid catch.
Why? Because good luck finding a better QB to win now.
Wonder if the feelings are mutual?
I don’t know why he’d want to come back. The scheme is terrible and predictable. Has 1 reliable WR signed for next year and 3 TE that really don’t get used as much as they should in the passing game.
And Aaron is throwing like an Erin tonight. Missed pass after missed pass.
The Steelers seem to be treating him well and he seems happy. Hopefully for them, whatever decision Rodgers makes will be made known before, say, August of 2026.
After tonight’s stinkeroo, I agree with TJ
Why come back here?
This entire team needs to be blown up from coach on down. Get a young mind who can hire his own assistants, trade the overpriced vets while you can and load up with picks
Just make sure you have a smart GM
I didn’t want to think Tomlin’s success here was due to Cowher’s picks but it’s evident
This season should push Rodgers to say it’s been a nice career
Tennessee sacked Mike Vrabel and let Derrick Henry leave as a free agent. Their current teams are doing good — Titans are now bottom of the barrel.
Be careful for what you wish.
Don’t believe the hype, Chuck. You’re listing of a failure is negated by countless success stories. This has been a mushy middle franchise for years and the “winning record” hype is just that
The Eagles are a franchise that will quickly change and restock. The Colts were a mushy middle team and have re-energized. The Pats. Even the Chiefs before Reed
A new infusion is needed here. From GM on down. But with an owner who takes great pride in coach stability, it’ll never happen, and this franchise will continue to stagnate in the middle
Typical comment for someone who gets all his news from ESPN.
In the NFL the motto is “what have you done lately”. Philadelphia lead a very weak NFC East, Indianapolis have yet to play Jacksonville or Houston, while Kansas City won’t make the playoffs as it stands.
Steelers will be alright.
Are you kidding, Chucky. I live in Pittsburgh. I have been on board since Noll was coach. If I got my opinions from ESPN, I’d genuflect every time I hear the name “Tomlin”
I mean, you must be kidding
They’ll be alright? Do you watch the games or just like playing the contrarian?
It’s a bad team destined for another 9-8 season with a head coach living on overstated laurels, another outrageously unimaginative offensive coordinator and a lot of aging guys who routinely disappear in games.
Try to get a sense of what’s real before embarrassing yourself with such tripe
Well, what has Tomlin done lately? No playoff wins in a decade. Most coaches would be fired within that timeframe. The players change but the results are the same so what is the common denominator? ESPN rides his nuts constantly like he is some coaching genius when he is nothing more than a glorified cheerleader.
You mean 9-8? That kind of “alright”?
Roger’s played awful tonight, but he had played well before that. Pittsburgh is really SOL.
Next year, if Rogers doesn’t return, they will have no QB, since they won’t be drafting high enough to even have a chance at a questionable future franchise signal caller(why they should have drafted J Dart). One WR, and a poor OL.
They have a bad defense already, and next year their 3 best defensive players will be 37, 32, 32(Heyward, Watt, and Ramsey). The other starting CB ( Slay) will be 36, and Porter is awful, just a pass interference waiting to happen. I figure Tomlin will move on in the next season or two, because he isn’t going to want to deal with this rebuilding project.
You would turn the Steelers into the Browns. Great rankings for the defense, the Factory of Sadness on offense.
Except the Steelers don’t have a great defense. They are paying more than enough to have one, but it is really bad presently. All the Tomlin talk aside, how has T Austin kept his job as DC? There’s a mystery.
Well everyone wants Rodgers to remain with the Steelers if the alternative is having him in a broadcast booth.
He might consider such an option if Pittsburgh can hire some receivers. He sure wasn’t very pleased with the options he had yesterday evening.
Not the time to be posting this after last night’s debacle.