Insider Gives Clarity Regarding Steelers' Plan For Aaron Rodgers Following Mike McCarthy Hire

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Saturday that they are planning to hire Mike McCarthy to be their next head coach. Most Steelers fans remember McCarthy as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers, where he defeated the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. McCarthy coached in Green Bay for 13 years, followed by a five-year stint with the Dallas Cowboys. While there is still a giant question mark surrounding who will be the Steelers' starting quarterback in 2026, there is no denying the connection that McCarthy has with one of his former signal-callers, Aaron Rodgers. 

Rodgers played for McCarthy in Green Bay from 2006 until he was fired during the 2018 season. During that time, Rodgers won two of his four Most Valuable Player awards, and the Packers reached the postseason nine times, winning at least one playoff game in six of those appearances. 

The McCarthy-Rodgers pairing helped define an era in Green Bay, producing sustained regular-season success and a Super Bowl title that cemented their place among the league’s most productive coach-quarterback duos.

Although McCarthy’s exit from Green Bay was somewhat ugly, it wouldn’t surprise anyone in the football world if Rodgers decided to come back for one more season and play for his former head coach. Rodgers has said that the only reason he came to Pittsburgh was to play for Mike Tomlin, but the familiarity and success between him and McCarthy could make the idea appealing. 

On NFL GameDay Morning on NFL Network on Sunday morning, Tom Pelissero told audiences that while a Rodgers and McCarthy reunion makes sense on the surface, that was not the sole reason McCarthy was brought to Pittsburgh.

"They did not hire Mike McCarthy to lure back Aaron Rodgers," Pelissero said. "But if there is one head coach that Aaron Rodgers would play for again, it is McCarthy who he won that Super Bowl with in Green Bay."

Even if it wasn’t the main plan, the possibility is clearly there, and the Steelers aren’t pretending otherwise. While Rodgers has yet to announce if he plans to return to Pittsburgh, retire, or play elsewhere in 2026, the door remains wide open. Team president Art Rooney II has openly said that the team would welcome Rodgers back if he decides he wants to do so.

If Rodgers does decide to come back, it wouldn’t just be about nostalgia or reliving the past. Pittsburgh offers a roster that still believes it can win now, and adding a familiar voice like McCarthy could make things feel comfortable right away. 

For Rodgers, that kind of stability might matter more than chasing something completely new. At the same time, the Steelers aren’t putting all their eggs in one basket and will continue to explore every option at quarterback. Still, the connection between Rodgers and McCarthy is impossible to ignore, and as the offseason drags on, it’s a storyline that isn’t going away anytime soon, unless a firm decision is made.

Steelers' Mike McCarthy Very Intrigued By Quarterback Will Howard

While the option to bring back Rodgers is certainly on the table, it has been reported that McCarthy is very intrigued by Will Howard. That interest alone is notable, especially coming from a coach who has worked with elite quarterbacks throughout his career and has a track record of trusting his own evaluations.

The Steelers drafted Howard in the 6th round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and although he didn’t play a single snap in 2025, some feel there is massive potential there. Much of that belief comes from his physical tools, arm strength, and the success that he had at the collegiate level at Kansas State and Ohio State. 

McCarthy has often been deemed a “quarterback whisperer,” and it may be worth a shot to trot out Howard in 2026 to see what he is, especially with an expected quarterback-heavy draft class coming in 2027. Giving Howard a real opportunity could provide clarity for the franchise while keeping long-term flexibility firmly intact.

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