The Pittsburgh Steelers came away with a 24-21 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday in the first ever NFL regular season game in Dublin, Ireland. Not only was it a nail-biting win for the Black and Gold, but it improved their record to 3-1 heading into their bye week. It was arguably Pittsburgh's best performance of the season, and another good performance from quarterback Aaron Rodgers. After securing the Steelers’ victory, Rodgers might have dropped a subtle hint about what lies ahead for him in Pittsburgh.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers throws against the Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland
Following the Steelers' win over Minnesota, the NFL UK & Ireland X account posted a video of Rodgers and Cameron Heyward celebrating while walking off the field. In a quick six-second clip, Rodgers had a message for Steeler Nation that showed up in Dublin.
"Thank you for showing up today, we love you," said Rodgers. "We wish we could come back next year."
Rodgers could be hinting at multiple things in this video. The first is obvious, that being the Steelers enjoyed the trip to Dublin and a win put the cherry on top. It would be surprise to none if many Steelers players, coaches, and fans wanted to make a return trip to Ireland in the future, or possibly even next season. So it makes you think, did Rodgers just accidentally announce his intention to return to the Steelers in 2026?
Earlier this summer, Rodgers hinted during an episode of The Pat McAfee Show that the 2025 season would likely be his last, but he has yet to officially come out and say that he plans to hang it up at the season's conclusion. Rodgers will turn 42 years old in December, but through the first four weeks of the season, he has proven that he still has plenty left in the tank.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Aaron Rodgers prepares to take the snap against the Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland.
With Rodgers signing a one-year contract, the initial thought was Pittsburgh's plan was to roll with Rodgers in 2025 and make a push for a Super Bowl run, then draft a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, with the combination of Rodgers playing well, and numerous quarterbacks in the 2026 draft class not performing so well, it certainly begs the question if the four-time NFL MVP will indeed return for his 22nd season in 2026.
Rodgers has given the Steelers the best quarterback play that they've had since Ben Roethlisberger in 2018. Through four games, Rodgers has completed 74 of 108 pass attempts for 786 yards, 8 touchdowns, with only three interceptions. Although the numbers might not be breathtaking, his play on the field is bringing excitement to the Steel City. Rodgers has led the Steelers' offense with his calm demeanor, leadership, knowledge, awareness, and he has undoubtedly been the driving factor behind Pittsburgh's 3-1 start.
Ben McShane / Pittsburgh Steelers
Mike Tomlin, Aaron Rodgers, and Cameron Heyward walk off the field at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland following Pittsburgh's 24-21 win over the Minnesota Vikings.
Steelers' Future Plans For Quarterback Could Stay The Same Even If Rodgers Returns
If Rodgers can continue his efficient play, it'd be hard for any Steelers fan to argue with him returning in 2026, but what does that mean for the Steelers' future at quarterback? In all honesty, it wouldn't necessarily mean the Steelers need to shift gears on their plan for their next franchise quarterback. The plan all along was for Rodgers to man the offense in 2025, with the Steelers likely using a high draft pick to take a quarterback in April's draft, and that can still very much be the case.
It has become more common now than ever for NFL teams to draft a young quarterback and have him sit behind a veteran and learn, and that could be what the Steelers do in 2026 if Rodgers decides to return. In all reality, that might be the smartest thing for the Steelers to do. Instead of throwing a rookie quarterback into the fire right away, let him learn behind one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game.
