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.
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
The Tomlin era is over, the Post-Gazette will soon be history … Rodgers’ NFL career might be the same.
(Also notice how serial fellator Mike Lupica ghosted Rodgers and completely ignored the Tomlin legacy after the Steelers were eliminated.)
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!)
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…
Get lost flat earth and vax moron.
Oh, he did have a decent year stats wise but eye test was mid.
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.
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.
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.
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.