Aaron Rodgers’ Return To Steelers Gaining Momentum
With former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy finding his way to Pittsburgh (after a five-year layover in Dallas), there’s been speculation that former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who found his way to Pittsburgh a year earlier, could have a new motivation to return to the team in 2026. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (via colleague Ian Rapoport), that could be the case as Rodgers appears to be seriously considering sticking with the Steelers for his 22nd season of NFL play. 
Entering the season, many, including Rodgers, had some idea that 2025 would be a swan song for the league’s oldest active player, who is now older than eight active head coaches. As the regular season was coming to a close and Rodgers was on his way back to the playoffs for the first time in four years, the 42-year-old let it be known that he wasn’t married to the idea of retiring.
Immediately following the team’s postseason exit, there seemed to be mutual interest in Rodgers coming back on a new deal in 2026, but things changed when longtime head coach Mike Tomlin decided to step away. While Pittsburgh continued to support the idea of Rodgers returning for another year, the odds of Rodgers returning without Tomlin didn’t look great. The Steelers made a move, though, and it may have been the only move that could’ve aided a Rodgers return under a new head coach.
Though, they likely didn’t choose him with this end in mind, the hiring of McCarthy, Rodgers’ former head coach in Green Bay, to replace Tomlin as head coach may end up being a crucial key in retaining Rodgers. Steelers owner Art Rooney told media the door was still open to Rodgers, McCarthy expressed his desire for a reunion with his former quarterback, and top receiver D.K. Metcalf has even been in touch with Rodgers, trying to move the needle on coming back for another run. Pelissero reports that Rodgers has had several conversations with McCarthy since his arrival, and odds are increasing that a reunion will take place.
This “will he, won’t he” won’t last nearly as long as last year, when Rodgers didn’t choose a team until June. While they won’t pressure the veteran quarterback to make a decision, everyone is hoping that he will come to a decision before the start of free agency in mid-March. In the next month or so, we should have a better idea of whether or not we’ll see Rodgers return for his age-43 season in a reunion with McCarthy.
Mike McCarthy Wants Aaron Rodgers Reunion, Will Call Offensive Plays
As soon as the Steelers decided on Mike McCarthy as their next head coach, talk about an Aaron Rodgers reunion began to swirl.
Rodgers signed with the Steelers largely due to Mike Tomlin, so the longtime coach’s resignation seemed to signal the end of the veteran quarterback’s time in Pittsburgh. Hiring McCarthy, who coached Rodgers for 13 seasons in Green Bay, has changed all that.
During his introductory press conerence on Tuesday, McCarthy said that he was “definitely” interested in bringing Rodgers back to Pittsburgh for another year.
“I don’t see why you wouldn’t,” he added (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero). The two have already spoken about the possibility, but Rodgers will likely spend another offseason courting attention about his next career move.
If Rodgers does not run it back in Pittsburgh, the Steelers do not have a clear starter for the 2026 season. Currently rostered are Mason Rudolph and Will Howard, neither of whom profile as a starting quarterback for a team that, presumably, plans to compete next year. McCarthy said (via Pelissero) that he was “really excited” about working with Howard, a 2025 sixth-round pick who did not see a single regular-season snap as a rookie.
Regardless of the Steelers’ QB (or offensive coordinator), McCarthy plans to call the team’s offensive plays. He held that role in Green Bay and later in Dallas (after Kellen Moore‘s departure in 2022). That could affect McCarthy’s search for an offensive coordinator who may be seeking play-calling duties to boost their own resume.
Rooney: Door Open For Aaron Rodgers Steelers Return
The Steelers have hired an offense-oriented head coach for the first time in 60 years. The coach they hired happens to have considerable experience coaching Pittsburgh’s 2025 starting quarterback. After some rumors indicating the Steelers would be interested in extending their Aaron Rodgers partnership to a second season emerged, Art Rooney II confirmed them.
Rooney said upon hiring Mike McCarthy the Steelers are interested in a second Rodgers season. While indicating Rodgers’ status did not affect the team’s McCarthy decision, the longtime owner noted the door is open for Rodgers to stay in Pittsburgh and play a 22nd NFL season.
“We don’t know what Aaron’s plans are right now, and that did not weigh heavily in the decision,” Rooney said of the McCarthy hire, via The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo. “We’ll see where Aaron is, and we’ve left the door open, but obviously we all have to sit down and see if that makes sense. So that’ll happen sometime in the next month or so. But the decision was made based on Mike being the coach we want, and it really had very little to do with whether Aaron is going to be back or not.”
Rooney had said several days ago Mike Tomlin‘s departure would likely affect Rodgers’ Steelers future, but upon McCarthy being hired to coach in his native Pittsburgh, a reported pointed to Rodgers not slamming the door on playing for the veteran HC once again. Rodgers, of course, was the Packers’ starter for 11 seasons with McCarthy at the helm. Overall, the Super Bowl-winning HC coached the future Hall of Fame QB from 2006 until his firing during the 2018 season. Rodgers won two of his four MVP awards under McCarthy, who was Green Bay’s play-caller for almost all of that stretch.
Although Rodgers did not exactly flash prime form this past season, the Steelers could use him as a bridge quarterback. Rodgers, 42, ranked 23rd in QBR — one spot behind where Russell Wilson ranked in 2024. Though, teams had Rodgers slotted higher in the free agency queue than Wilson last year. The Steelers, though, would have preferred Matthew Stafford or a Justin Fields re-signing to Rodgers. The Vikings appealed to Rodgers more than the Steelers, but when Minnesota did not express sufficient interest, it became Pittsburgh or retirement for the recent Jets starter.
While Rodgers said the 2025 season most likely would be his last, a report in late December pegged him as not being committed to retiring. It would be quite Rodgers-like for this decision to drag on; after all, he did not finally commit to the Steelers until June 2025.
Pittsburgh’s latest playoff one-and-done leaves the team with the No. 21 overall pick. That might be enough to land the top non-Fernando Mendoza QB option in this year’s class, but the talent pool looks much thinner than it was projected to at last season’s outset. It is possible non-Raiders teams will need to consider eyeing their rookie options in 2027 rather than 2026, though some younger QBs — Kyler Murray, Tua Tagovailoa among them — are in play to relocate.
For now, though, the Steelers have let it be known they are interested in pairing Rodgers with McCarthy again after seven seasons apart. The team did not set a deadline on Rodgers last year, but with other veteran options likely set to come up as starters in 2026, it will likely need to hear from the all-time great sooner this offseason.
Steelers Hire Mike McCarthy As HC
The Steelers have found their successor to longtime head coach Mike Tomlin. The team plans to hire Pittsburgh native Mike McCarthy, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. It’ll be McCarthy’s third head coaching opportunity in the NFL. A five-year deal has been agreed to, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette adds.
Known for remarkable organizational stability under the Rooney family, the Steelers have now hired just four head coaches since 1969. Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Tomlin combined for 57 years on the job.
As an offensive-minded 62-year-old with significant HC experience, McCarthy brings a much different profile than the Noll-Cowher-Tomlin trio. The Steelers handed the keys to each of those coaches when they were in their 30s. They were all first-timers with defensive backgrounds. This is the first time the Steelers have hired a head coach with an offensive background since Bill Austin in 1966.
Noll, Cowher and Tomlin each won at least one Super Bowl in Pittsburgh, while McCarthy hoisted the Lombardi Trophy at the Steelers’ expense 15 years ago. Then the Packers’ head coach, McCarthy guided the team to a 31-25 win over the Tomlin-led Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. That remains the high point of McCarthy’s career, but he has enjoyed plenty of success over 18 years as a head coach. At 174-112-2, McCarthy sits 15th on the all-time wins list. His .608 winning percentage ranks 39th.
As Green Bay’s sideline leader from 2006-18, McCarthy posted a 125-77-2 regular-season record with nine playoff berths. He followed that up with a 49-35 mark and three playoff appearances in a half-decade in Dallas, where he was at the helm from 2020-24. McCarthy’s Cowboys went just 1-3 in the postseason, however, and they stumbled to a 7-10 mark during an injury-limited campaign for quarterback Dak Prescott last year. Owner Jerry Jones then allowed McCarthy’s contract to expire. While the Bears and Saints showed interest in McCarthy last January, he didn’t coach anywhere in 2025.
McCarthy will now grab the reins of yet another iconic franchise in Pittsburgh, which didn’t record a single sub-.500 season during Tomlin’s 19-year reign. Although the 53-year-old Tomlin won his eighth AFC North title and went to the playoffs for the 13th time this season, he resigned after the Texans routed the Steelers in the wild-card round. It was the seventh straight postseason loss for Tomlin, who won just eight of 20 playoff games in Pittsburgh. McCarthy owns an 11-11 record in the playoffs.
Tomlin spent the majority of his tenure teaming with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, but the Steelers have lacked stability under center over the past few years. Since Roethlisberger retired after 2021, Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers have each started at least five games in a season. The team still managed its third straight 10-win showing in 2025, which could go down as the 42-year-old Rodgers’ only season in Pittsburgh.
Between his age and his status as a soon-to-be free agent, it’s unclear whether Rodgers will continue his career next season. However, the obvious connection to McCarthy may make it more likely.
Rodgers was McCarthy’s starter for almost all of the coach’s time in Green Bay. Along with winning the only Super Bowl of his career under McCarthy, Rodgers took home a pair of MVPs, among numerous other accomplishments.
Eight years after they last paired up, McCarthy and Rodgers could reunite in Pittsburgh. The Steelers didn’t hire McCarthy to keep Rodgers from retiring, but he may be the one coach the QB would consider playing for at this stage of his career, according to Pelissero.
Whether it’s Rodgers or someone else, finding an answer under center will be among the most important tasks of the offseason for McCarthy and general manager Omar Khan. There’s familiarity between McCarthy and Khan, who overlapped in New Orleans from 2000-01. McCarthy was the Saints’ offensive coordinator then, while Khan was in their football operations department.
As the Steelers’ GM since 2022, Khan has overseen four straight seasons of at least nine wins. The Steelers have made the postseason three years in a row, and replacing Tomlin with a coach who’s almost a decade older suggests they don’t intend to take a step back in 2026. That’s no surprise after owner Art Rooney II spoke out against a potential rebuild on the heels of Tomlin’s exit.
With the Steelers becoming the sixth team to hire a head coach this month, there are only four openings left. The Bills, Browns, Cardinals and Raiders are still in the market. McCarthy was not a candidate for any of those jobs, though he did interview with the Giants and Titans before they chose John Harbaugh and Robert Saleh, respectively.
Steelers To Conduct HC Interview With Mike McCarthy
With Mike Tomlin having resigned as the Steelers’ head coach, Pittsburgh could turn to the coach who bested Tomlin in Super Bowl XLV as his replacement. As Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reports, the Steelers have secured an HC interview with Mike McCarthy (ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first to report an interview was expected).
McCarthy, 62, is a Pittsburgh native, and he and Steelers GM Omar Khan had a brief overlap in New Orleans in 2000-01. During that time, McCarthy was working as the Saints’ offensive coordinator, and Khan was in the team’s football operations department.
That modicum of familiarity aside, McCarthy does bring plenty of experience to the table. His Super Bowl victory came in his fifth season as the Packers’ HC, and he lasted seven more years in Green Bay beyond that. After a year off in 2019, McCarthy took over for Jason Garrett as the Cowboys’ head coach in 2020. Dallas struggled to a 6-10 mark in McCarthy’s first year, but the team put together three straight 12-win seasons thereafter.
However, those successful regular seasons resulted in just one playoff victory during McCarthy’s Dallas tenure. Following a 7-10 campaign in 2024, the club did not renew his contract.
That has not prevented McCarthy from attracting interest in each of the last two head coaching cycles. He interviewed for the Bears’ and Saints’ posts last year and for the Titans’ and Giants’ vacancies in 2026. While New York has already hired John Harbaugh, the Tennessee job remains open.
The Steelers’ storied history and unparalleled head coaching stability make their HC gig attractive in some respects, though their quarterback situation is one that could give high-end candidates cause for concern. With former McCarthy charge Aaron Rodgers under center, the club clinched the AFC North crown in the waning seconds of the 2025 regular season but was routed by the Texans in the wildcard round of the playoffs. Reports published after Tomlin’s resignation suggested Rodgers would not return to Pittsburgh.
Other reports have indicated that the team would nonetheless be amenable to a new deal for the mercurial passer, and that Rodgers’ teammates would be happy to have him back. Even if that were to happen, Rodgers is now 42, and the Steelers do not have an obvious long-term QB on the roster or a clear means of acquiring one this offseason.
Of course, a McCarthy-Rodgers reunion in the Steel City would be a fascinating development given the combination of success and interpersonal tension they shared in Green Bay (it has been reported that any discord between the two men has dissipated over time). Their QB outlook notwithstanding, veteran NFL reporter and current Cowboys beat Ed Werder says there is nothing McCarthy would like more than to become the head coach of his hometown Steelers, and he even suggests a McCarthy hire could make a Rodgers re-up more likely.
Take a look at our tracker to see how the Steelers’ search, and the searches of other HC-needy teams, are shaping up.
Aaron Rodgers Not Expected To Re-Sign With Steelers; Team Amenable To Reunion
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.
Steelers’ Art Rooney II Addresses Situation Post-Tomlin
In the aftermath of head coach Mike Tomlin‘s departure from Pittsburgh, Steelers owner/president Art Rooney II made some things clear from the team’s perspective. One such item made clear, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, was that Tomlin was not in danger of losing his job before he stepped down. Rooney expressed that he was willing “to take another run at it” with Tomlin next season, which he had expected to discuss with the long-time head coach before his resignation. 
Despite his desire to run it back with Tomlin in 2026, Rooney asserted that he made no attempts to talk Tomlin out of his decision. “I did not,” Rooney said in response to the question, according to Mark Maske of The Washington Post. “He was pretty clear about what his intentions were…We had a great conversation, and I understand where he was.”
Mike DeFabo of The Athletic added on that part of the reason Rooney declined to push back on Tomlin’s decision was because it was, as the owner framed it to the media, a “family-driven” exit. Tomlin’s decision not to coach in the near future had already been reported, but DeFabo’s wording stated that “Tomlin does not plan on coaching again anytime soon.”
Moving forward, Rooney and general manager Omar Khan will reportedly be leading the search for Tomlin’s replacement, per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. The pair ruled out a number of candidates fairly quickly as Rooney told the media that he didn’t “expect anyone on the current staff” to be a candidate to step into the open head coaching role, per DeFabo. Realistically, this would only apply to offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, and we can probably just narrow it down to Smith since he’s been rumored as a candidate in New York, requested to interview with the Cardinals, and interviewed with the Titans.
Another aspect of the future affected by Tomlin’s exit, in the eyes of Rooney, is the team’s quarterback position. After Aaron Rodgers led the team to the playoffs in his first year with the team, there was some speculation that the 42-year-old passer would be running it back as Pittsburgh’s quarterback for the 2026 season. The other option the veteran is reportedly considering is one in which he hangs up his cleats for good. As Rooney puts it (via Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated), “Aaron came here to play for Mike, so I think it’ll most likely affect his decision.”
Even if his starting quarterback departs along with his head coach, though, it doesn’t appear as if Rooney is expecting to blow things up further. He’s looking to carry on Tomlin’s moniker of “the standard is the standard” and expecting the next head coach and quarterback to pick up where Tomlin and Rodgers left off. When asked if the team could enter a “rebuild” phase, he pushed back on that notion, saying he didn’t “like that word” and that he couldn’t understand why anyone would “waste a year of your life not trying to contend,” per Pryor.
Instead, Rooney and Khan will hit the ground running to try and find Tomlin’s replacement while righting the ship in a direction that hopefully leads to the franchise’s first playoff win in 10 years.
Mutual Interest Between Steelers, Aaron Rodgers For 2026 Deal
Last summer, Aaron Rodgers strongly indicated the 2025 campaign would be his last in the NFL. His one-year stint in Pittsburgh has gone well, though, and it could continue beyond tonight’s game.
The Steelers have been willing to keep Rodgers in the fold for next season, and midway through the campaign it was reported Pittsburgh’s hope was for that to take place. The future Hall of Famer, meanwhile, has left the door open to playing at least one more year. It appears an extended arrangement would be welcomed by both parties.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network confirms (video link) there is a mutual interest between Rodgers and the Steelers to continue their partnership. The relationship between Rodgers and head coach Mike Tomlin remains strong, and Pittsburgh managed to win the AFC North this season with a 10-7 record. Aiming for a similar level of success in 2026 could obviously prove beneficial for all involved.
Rodgers’ legacy certainly took a hit during his Jets tenure, and a messy parting of ways with New York left his future unclear for much of last offseason. Limited free agent interest was shown, but a short-term Steelers pact long loomed as a reasonable proposition on both sides. A one-year deal was ultimately finalized, and it has proven to be worthwhile. Rodgers is now 42, but he missed only one game this season.
The four-time MVP did not match the statistical output of his best seasons, but an efficient passing output has proven sufficient in Pittsburgh this year. Improvements along the offensive line and at the receiver position would go a long way in providing a boost on offense for 2026. Keeping Rodgers in the fold would also give the unit a high floor next season.
The Steelers have been unable to find a long-term Ben Roethlisberger replacement since his retirement after the 2021 season. Efforts in the draft and along the free agent and trade routes have not yielded the desired results, but Rodgers has proven to be an effective stopgap option. Veteran Mason Rudolph and sixth-round rookie Will Howard are under contract for next season, so stability on the depth chart can be expected moving forward. It is unclear at this point if Rodgers will also be in the fold, but another deal being worked out with the Steelers would not come as a surprise.
Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers Not Committed To Retirement
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.
Jets Notes: Johnson, McDonald, Rodgers
One of the players mentioned as trade candidates ahead of what turned out to be a franchise-reshaping deadline for the Jets, Jermaine Johnson has not rebounded from his 2024 Achilles tear effectively. Entering Week 18, the former first-round pick has three sacks on just six QB hits. The team is believed to have asked for a second-round pick in a trade last month, potentially being offered a Round 2 selection in a pick-swap proposal, and rejected a third-round offer for the fourth-year defender. That may have been a mistake.
The Jets picked up Johnson’s fifth-year option this offseason, doing so despite changing regimes and the current one seeing the 2022 first-rounder rehabbing from the 2024 injury. But an extension should not be considered likely. The chances of an offseason payday in 2026 appear “slim,” according to ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini. Johnson did impress in his previous healthy season (2023), leading to the Jets’ decision to exercise the $13.41MM 2026 option. That number is fully guaranteed. If no offseason extension is on the radar for Johnson, he would stand to again be a trade candidate. The Jets do hold exclusive negotiating rights with Johnson until March 2027, but it appears he will need to show more of his 2023 form (7.5 sacks, 16 QB hits) to warrant a second Jets contract.
Here is the latest from Gang Green:
- The team’s other starting defensive end, Will McDonald, was viewed as closer to untouchable at the deadline. After a 10.5-sack 2024 season, McDonald leads the Jets with eight entering Week 18. But his 2027 fifth-year option (projected at around $15MM) may not be automatic for the Darren Mougey-Aaron Glenn regime, Cimini notes. Four of McDonald’s sacks came in one game — against the Browns — and he ranks 54th in QB pressures (20). Consistency has been an issue for the 2023 first-rounder, per Cimini. Considering McDonald’s 10.5-sack, 24-hit 2024, it would surprise if the Jets passed on his option. After all, they exercised Johnson’s after he showed less through three seasons. But some big questions are in place along the Jets’ post-Quinnen Williams defensive line moving forward.
- OverTheCap currently lists Aaron Rodgers as accounting for $35MM in dead money on the Jets’ 2026 cap sheet, but that may be set for an adjustment. The two-year New York quarterback is now expected to count $28MM in dead cap next year, per CBS Sports’ Joel Corry. A $7MM cap credit is behind the disparity, with Corry noting it stems from an nonexercised option bonus. That $7MM ended up being applied to the Jets’ 2025 cap, which will leave them with some additional space in 2026. If Rodgers will count $28MM on Gang Green’s 2026 cap sheet, the team is projected to hold nearly $90MM in cap space entering 2026. Rodgers still tagged the Jets with $56MM in total dead cap — the second-highest single-player total in NFL history — in total, though it looks like the team will end up paying $28MM in both 2025 and ’26 rather than backloading the punishment.
- The Jets have already fired DC Steve Wilks, continuing the veteran staffer’s nomadic career since his Cardinals one-and-done, and more changes are likely. Defensive line coach Eric Washington is a name to watch with regard to a shakeup, Cimini adds. Washington and Wilks have an extensive past, as both worked on Ron Rivera‘s Panthers staff for most of the 2010s. While the duo went their separate ways after Wilks’ 2018 Arizona hire, with Washington later becoming the Bears’ DC in 2024, Glenn axing a longtime Wilks coworker would add up as he considers changes after a wildly disappointing season.