Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers entered the 2025 season believing it would be in last, but his comments on Wednesday indicate that he is still open to playing in 2026.
Rodgers spoke about his future this week and acknowledged the obvious: he is 42 years old and is not under contract for next season. This is a change from his previous stance in June – after he signed with the Steelers – when Rodgers was “pretty sure” he would retire after the season. He also noted that he signed a one-year deal in Pittsburgh for that reason. His words on Wednesday indicate, at at minimum, that he has not made up his mind.
If Rodgers were to play in 2026, the main question would be where. He believes that he would have options if he decides to keep playing, which could include the Steelers. He expressed his satisfaction with the organization on Wednesday, which could play a factor in his decision.
“I’ve enjoyed this experience, and everybody in Pittsburgh has been fantastic to me on and off the field,” Rodgers said (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “And it’s really what I was hoping for this experience was, it’s been even better than I was hoping.”
Running it back with the Steelers would, of course, mean that the team wants to continue the partnership as well. They appear to be open to the idea. Otherwise, it is hard to know which teams, if any, would be interested in Rodgers.
Rodgers mentioned a few other factors in his decision, including his wife’s insight and his physical ability to keep playing. He may also want to end his career on a better note, especially if the Steelers miss the playoffs with a loss to the Ravens on Sunday night. In general, he putting up similar stats to last season’s numbers with the Jets, but he is also on pace for his fewest yards per game as a starter.
“Anytime you’re in a first-year offense, there’s always some growing pains within the offense,” Rodgers said. “It’s always like, you feel like, if you had another year, what you could do.”
The Steelers offense has been middling at best this year, but it is their first year with Rodgers under center and D.K. Metcalf out wide. The running game has not thrived, and Rodgers has not had a reliable No. 2 receiver to target. Pittsburgh is always interested in wide receivers and the prospect of adding one or two this offseason could inspire Rodgers to come back.
It is also worth noting the past media circuses around Rodgers’ decisions about if and where he will play in the future. If he does decide to return for the 2026 season – his 22nd in the NFL – the process could drag out as it has in years past.
“If he does decide to return for the 2026 season – his 22nd in the NFL – he will drag the process out for as long as anybody will pay attention to his ego-inflated, grandstanding self as he has in years past.”
There ya go. Fixed that last sentence for you.
A.a.ron is such a jerk. No one else would ever act this way and somehow keep getting away with it.
Best,
Brett Favre
Yeah, I prefer guys that take a paycheck and mail it in, not somebody that has the desire to keep playing and are still effective into their 40s.
Cool, this again
I was genuinely upset when the Steelers signed Rodgers. I thought it was a bad move on the field and a worse move off of it, fearing the media circus.
Rodgers has been a great Pittsburgh Steeler. He’s played mostly well. Everyone seems to enjoy having him on the team, and Aaron genuinely seems to be having a fun time more often than not.
If he wants to run it back with Pittsburgh one more time I would most likely be fully on board… but it’s very early and a whole lot can change.
It’s really hard to assess all of this, however
I can agree with much of your reasoning but this is really a horrible offense that refuses to throw deep or in the middle of the field. It’s really failed to use both Freiermuth and Jonnu as receiving threats
The great unknown here is why. Is it an offensive coordinator who’d have been more at home calling plays in the 70’s? Is it a lack of receiving personnel that can get separation? Or is it Rodgers himself, getting rid of the ball quickly so as not to get hit?
He’s been their best alternative since Roethlisberger retired, I’ll grant you that. But this is a franchise stuck in the middle with a lot of old guys like him. Just how long can they continue on this course?
We’ll see how you feel about it in July when he still hasn’t decided if he’ll play again
I’ll be completely bald from tearing my hair out.
I wonder what they can do if they upgrade the WR opposite Metcalf and add a stronger RB option to pair with Gainwell. You can tell Rodgers was starting to like Washington before his injury too. This offense can take off next year.
Not with Smith calling the plays.
You’re right about receivers, of course and Gainwell has been a revelation but Warren has done well, too
Guess I’m not as big a believer in Rodgers at this age. Good QB and an upgrade over the last few years but hard to see him leading any take off now
Take off? Haha
So he has you fooled too. The Steelers will miss the playoffs in a year any good QB would have gotten them in easily
Vikings
Expect a 4-5 month wait after the season on the drama king to make up his mind
He needs to consult the ayahuasca…
Rodgers needs to take a year off to rest… before embarking on his flag football career 🙂
The Steelers need to move on with a QB they can build and rally around….and that is’t Rogers who is the most ego centric player in modern times….all about him…and the Rooney’s have let him get away with it….
Forgetting all the media obsession and the ego, and everything else that comes bundled with Aaron Rodgers, why would a Steelers fan (or, frankly, a fan of any other team) want to commit to a full season of non-embarassing QB play from a fading veteran?
He’s not going to win anyone a Super Bowl, and a commitment to Rodgers blocks the opportunity to effectively develop his heir apparent.
What’s the plan if you keep or acquire Rodgers? Use him as a one year place holder, then acquire a younger superstar replacement for the following year, a QB good enough to win a Super Bowl, but otherwise unappreciated by his current team? Draft a rookie QB in the ’27 draft who will become the only first year starter in league history to start a Super Bowl? Or do you have a ’26 draftee in mind, who is going to sit for a year, and learn at the knee of the famously self-absorbed and reticent Aaron Rodgers?
Any team with hopes of competing in the years to come needs to look elsewhere, rather than plumbing the final dregs of a QB in decline.
If you’re satisfied with a year of mediocre results, you can’t do much better than Rodgers, but, what?…followed, immediately, by another few years of searching for your next franchise guy?
Rodgers needs a gig to keep his ego afloat – but who NEEDS Rodgers?
It feels like a Coltsy move doesn’t it?
You know I want that annoying narcissist to ho away – but Im scared we will see him calling games. He will be like Brady – cause they live for attention.
My luck – Bills get to superbowl next year, and Rodgers and Brady call it.