Mike Tomlin resigned as the Steelers’ head coach this week, ending a 19-year run with the franchise. Future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers was Tomlin’s last quarterback in Pittsburgh. With Tomlin gone, it’s likely Rodgers has thrown his final pass as a Steeler, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com says.
This isn’t especially surprising in the wake of comments owner Art Rooney II made following Tomlin’s exit.
“Aaron came here to play for Mike, so I think it’ll most likely affect his decision,” Rooney said of Rodgers’ future.
However, the Steelers are reportedly open to a Rodgers return if he is so inclined. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Rodgers’ teammates were effusive in their praise for him, and most (if not all) of them told team executives during their exit interviews they would like to have him back next year. Schefter nonetheless acknowledges Rodgers is unlikely to re-sign.
During his trip to free agency last offseason, Rodgers reportedly told the Vikings they were his preferred team. After Minnesota didn’t reciprocate, the longtime Packer and ex-Jet pivoted to Pittsburgh on a one-year, $13.65MM contract.
In their only year working together, Rodgers and Tomlin formed a strong bond during a 10-7 campaign. With Rodgers providing an upgrade over predecessor and fellow short-term stopgap Russell Wilson, Tomlin went out with his eighth AFC North title and 13th playoff berth.
With his Steelers tenure likely over, it’s unclear if the 42-year-old Rodgers will aim to play a 22nd season in 2026. Rodgers said before the season that it would probably be his last, but he left the door open for a 2026 return in late December. While a Monday morning report pointed to mutual interest in Rodgers continuing as a Steeler next year, that was before their season fizzled out with a 30-6 loss to the Texans in the wild-card round. Tomlin stepped down the next day.
If this is it for Rodgers, his illustrious career will conclude on a respectable note. The Steelers didn’t have a great offensive supporting cast around him, but Rodgers completed 65.7% of passes, amassed 3,322 yards, tossed 24 touchdowns against seven interceptions, and posted a 94.8 passer rating in 16 games. That may be enough to convince other teams to pursue him as a short-term fix in the offseason.
With Rodgers seemingly done in Pittsburgh, it’s unknown which route the team will take at quarterback this offseason. Mason Rudolph is under contract for another year, but he’s likely better off in a backup role. Sixth-round pick Will Howard, who didn’t throw a pass as a rookie, is another in-house option. Otherwise, free agency, the trade market and the draft will be potential avenues for the Steelers. With still a couple of months before decisions are made on that front, the Steelers are working to find a new head coach for the first time since 2007.
Malik Willis come on down.
Why the hell is Malik Willis suddenly such a hot commodity?
Because he played well under LaFleur, he’s still athletic and fairly young, he’s a free agent, and both the draft and free agent market are light on starting caliber quarterbacks?
He sounds like a Steeler already!
They could have drafted him a few years ago, but they took Kenny Pickett 6 instead
Pickett did not have an offensive coordinator during his time in Pittsburgh. The offensive coordinator was another one of tomlins superb coaching hires.
He’s looked quite good when he’s played in GB.
Did you watch him play this year? And last year too
I also watched him play in Tennessee. Coaching makes all the difference.
Watching the same “fans” go from demanding that Tomlin win with it or else it’s all his fault because he’s a “bum” who “got lucky” 19 straight years to wanting the same roster torn down because it’s so bad and needs rebuilt without one iota of cognitive dissonance…as expected.
Because those “fans” believe “winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing”.
(Something Vince Lombardi NEVER said!)
No one said he “got lucky”
We said the Steelers org was good, not the coach who failed to ever have a sophisticated gameplan and couldnt develop any talent outside of 1st round picks
Mike Tomlin one of the most overrated HC ever. If he coached anyone but Steelers he would’ve been fired 17 years ago
19 straight winning seasons and he’s one of the most over rated coaches ever?? SMH Wow
How many playoff games did he win the last 10 years? You need to stop the 19 years without a losing record. Oh, and while you are looking that historic playoff run up, look at the final scores for the last 6 playoff games
19 straight non-losing seasons …
So, you expect the new coach to step in and win immediately with the current roster, correct?
Because it’s a very good roster (better than 10 wins, obviously) and it was just “the coach who failed to ever have a sophisticated gameplan and couldnt develop any talent outside of 1st round picks” holding them back, correct?
11 wins is the BARE minimum next year, correct?
No.
We expect the new coach to build a high octane system from the ground-up with an opportunity to develop the new QB and other young position needs.
This could require a season of a losing record, but its better than stop-gapping every hole and stumbling into a wildcard spot with low expectations on repeat
Broncos & Seahawks are great examples of how getting the right system in place and getting the MOST out of the players they have—along with some innovation, can really turn a team around.
Tomlin has not gotten the most out of any of his players besides self-motivated veterans like Watt & Heyward, Ramsey, Arodge, Gainwell
Cant say very promising talent like AB, Cam Sutton, Martavis Bryant, Chase Claypool, Juju Smith-Schuster, nor Dionte Johnson found the right career path under Tomlin.
“We only compete for Super Bowls” became “losing is cool” so fast, it’s comical.
“No.
We expect the new coach to build a high octane system from the ground-up with an opportunity to develop the new QB and other young position needs.”
Why would you blow up a roster built to win multiple playoff games…? You expected Tomlin to do that so obviously the roster is good enough to win multiple playoff games. Why wouldn’t you just get a good coach to coach this great roster better that lucky bum Tomlin? It’s all you need, right?
“Tomlin has not gotten the most out of any of his players besides self-motivated veterans like Watt & Heyward, Ramsey, Arodge, Gainwell
Cant say very promising talent like AB, Cam Sutton, Martavis Bryant, Chase Claypool, Juju Smith-Schuster, nor Dionte Johnson found the right career path under Tomlin.”
Two of the players you list as veterans are future HOF’ers that Tomlin groomed from rookies.
And you then list all of the guys who THRIVED ONLY under Tomlin.
So. Curious examples.
Nah they flushed their careers down the toilet because of lack of direction under MT and his cheerleader not leader approach. I forgot Pickens too, another wasted opportunity.
Steelers are consistently unprepared going into games, what is it like 20 straight games with 7 points or less in the first quarter?
True or false…if NOT for Tomlin being a lousy coach, the 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers would have won more games?
The team did have a lot of receiving talent, but alot of these players simply blew it, and wasted it. Bryant, Claypool, Johnson, Pickens, they all could have been great like Brown. Brown should have stayed with the team but was jealous of Smith-Shuster and acted stupid. Maybe that hit from Burfict in the 2015/16 playoffs really did affect him?
Can’t wait for yet another offseason to be dominated by “will he” or “won’t he” when it comes to Rodgers and his future.
You know it’s been on his mind
Could he stand right there
Look himself in the eye
And say that it’s over now?
We pay our debts on time…
Well played gents. One of my favorites.
He’s probably feeling it in them bones.
Get lost flat earth and vax moron.
Oh, he did have a decent year stats wise but eye test was mid.
Rodgers is way too old to bring back
That said, aaron Rodgers was decent until that pkayoff game. And i barely blame him for the struggles
I dont understand why that WR room was set up the way it was by Khan, or why Pat Freiermuth was the #3 TE behind 2 far inferior TE’s
But i look forward to a new coach and system that makes sense
Pretty sure Klint Kubiak just locked up the Steelers HC job last night
Rodgers looked way better overall than many of us thought he would. He wasn’t prime Rodgers, but he was miles better than any other available option. And you’re right Goku, between strange offensive planning and poor roster construction, he didn’t have the best set of tools to work with
Minter or Kubiak could make a hell-of-a pitch to him but I feel KOC will get him to Minn
I can’t really see Rodgers being the guy KOC brings in if they truly want McCarthy to compete for the job. If you bring him in, he’s the starter. I’m sure both sides feel that way, not just Rodgers.
If they decide to move on from McCarthy, sure, I just don’t see them doing that yet. I think a trade for Mac Jones or Jacoby Brisset is more along the lines of the move they would make, along with maybe drafting a day 2/3 guy like Nussmeier or Altmyer.
I think you’re 100% right, myaccount, and that’s probably why he won’t end up in Minnesota. However, the reason that the door isn’t completely shut is how abjectly badly this past year has gone. Rodgers’ stat line this past season probably gets Minnesota at a minimum into the playoffs (it did for Pittsburgh, after all), not to mention doesn’t waste another year of an expensive Jefferson contract.
Finding a Max Brosmer to emergency start on an otherwise potential championship caliber roster must be difficult for a coach who wants to run a clean system. McCarthy’s also been significantly injured for two seasons already; a year of Rodgers bringing a deep playoff run and then retiring in time for McCarthy’s contract year might allow the team to establish itself as a contender for McCarthy to try again-or, as is likely in this case, to look for a better solution.
I just imagine O’Connell being frustrated on game day because he has to slim down his playbook for a young and unsuccessful starter. Could he be frustrated enough to at least consider what would have been unthinkable before-sitting McCarthy (and effectively stunting his development, such as it is) for a vet in order to win right now? Before this season, it’d have been a solid no. After a season where his presumed starter threw more turnovers than scores, and again missed significant time, though? The door creaks open…
Maybe a bridge year with the Dolphins? Hmmmmm
Especially if they worked a deal with Pitts and got Tomlin as well? I dont think Rodgers would like his last NFL pass being returned for a TD.
Tomlin is taking a gap year at least, plus Green Bay DC Jeff Hafley has been tipped to be Miami’s next head coach.
Doesn’t sound like Tomlin coaching 2026. Taking a break…dont blame him.
I still don’t know if Pitts is safe
I meant the Dolphins making a deal with Pittsburgh for compensation to get Tomlin.
Steelers have been telling teams that have called that Tomlin isn’t going to coach “for awhile”. Don’t might even be a longer break than 1 year. It honestly seems like Mike is taking things slowly and doesn’t have a fixed plan in place.
Sums it up pretty well
He’s not good enough anymore to appeal much to a win now team. A team that is ready to win now doesn’t make much sense for the team or him. His stats this year were inflated by yards after the catch. You can tell from watching him play that he desperately doesn’t want to take hits.
True, but he showed that when he did move outside of the pocket, his throws still had good velocity.
Cousins?
My wife walked in the room last week when Rogers was getting up from getting knocked down and asked me when they let 60 year olds play. He looked ancient playing against the Texans…
To be fair, that defense is incredibly good and Rodgers probably got hit more in that game than any other game this season.
Thank God. I really hope they give Howard, the ball, and let him cook. Let’s see what he has and then Mason can back him up.
I’m not optimistic in Howard. He only looked any good his fifth college season when he was throwing to three first round receivers.
Reports out of last year’s training camp were that Howard looked way better and more advanced than people expected; a freaky hand injury is the only thing that kept him from actually having a shot to unseat Rudolph as the backup. I don’t think it would have happened but we never got the chance to see Howard in games.
Given the quality of QB talent in the draft aside from Mendoza, giving Howard a reasonable audition is fine, with Rudolph as the backup.
The rest of the roster needs work and an infusion of youth.
Oh my god you are already obsessed with reporting on ahole boy. Please recognize 90% of readers hate him and don’t need daily updates. Over under based on last offseason an average of six stories a week on here.
Cardinals
Rogers was just using the NFL as a launch pad to a flag football career anyway.
Jeopardy host? Oops, too late.
Good riddance. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out
Kyler Murray?
Great career Aaron. You’re a HOF’er. And yes, you did own the Bears. Should have won more than one SB but you still had a great career. Now, go off into your caves with the Shaman and Witch Doctors. And by all means enyoy the hallucinogens. The more the the merrier.
Still won’t be finalized until mid June.
“Guys, Im flattered. I understand you want to bask in my awesomeness. I love me some ARod too. But you know I have to stretch this out for maximum attention. I’ve got to schedule inconvenient trips, hippie tents, you know….stuff. But Im very committed to football. Plus, I still need time to invent an excuse to miss OTAs. I cant commit right now. Its not my way”
Ok, even though I’m a Steeler fan and I went from critical to a defender of Rodgers… this is funny. Well done.
I’ve been pleasantly surprised overall by the Aaron Rodgers experience. And it seems that so have his teammates.
You’re right, his teammates loved him, but they’ve only shed blood sweat and tears with him in battle, the internet GMs making comments above here seem to know better.
Idk man. You can cherry pick a few players like Adams – but my guess is that players don’t like being thrown under the bus by him constantly. Its never his fault.
I don’t know how tight his teammates really feel about a guy willing to take all the credit, none of the blame, and cant be bothered to show up to offseason activities. Maybe you are right and teammates love him, but its fair to question. Especially with his me-first attitude.
But I don’t play with him. You might be right.
Real GMs have had issues with him too. Remember when he publicly emasculated the Packers GM and all the examples he gave were washed up? (With the exception of Hyde who was not the player he became)
Not to mention the times he needed “his guys”
And I am allowed to look at a pile of evidence and draw my own conclusions.
Can’t go by what teammates in the building say (it would only put them in the doghouse with him), but look at what his previous teammates have said. Other than Greg Jennings, all have been complimentary when that type of talk does nothing to further careers or opportunities. I don’t think the talk of teammates appreciating and wanting to work with him is overblown.
If McCarthy got the job in Pittsburgh … would Rodgers want to continue there?
Here is the catch Aaron will only play with 2 coaches that are still in the league. One of them isnt an option. The other is interviewing with them this week how ironic Big Mike. Its evident Rooney wants Rodgers back he is well liked arround the team. McCarthy can be an option
No way I hell should he come back. Tomlin is gone. New coach new qb. Give the plays to will Howard. I will make a prediction that the steelers will draft Carson beck in the 3rd round. Could be the sleeper wb in the draft. And the new coach will be needed to have to get rid of some aging players. Like I said before they should hire David Shula immediately before someone else does
Rodgers will end up in Minnesota