The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering yet another offseason with some major questions at the quarterback position. That is arguably the most important position in all of sports, and the franchise's strategy over the last several seasons is not sustainable. As of now the only two quarterbacks under contract for the 2026 season are Mason Rudolph and Will Howard, but the chances of Aaron Rodgers returning for another year seem to be pretty high.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after a brutal loss to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round.
A big reason Rodgers came to Pittsburgh in the first place was to play for Mike Tomlin, but Tomlin stepped down following the 2025 season. That seemed like the end of Rodgers' time in Pittsburgh, until the franchise went out and hired Mike McCarthy. McCarthy and Rodgers won a Super Bowl together during their time with the Green Bay Packers, and the two could reunite in Pittsburgh in 2026. Legendary Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw recently appeared on 103.7 The Buzz, and he shared that he had already heard that Rodgers will be back in 2026.
"I have heard, right when the McCarthy thing was announced, or before it was announced, I'd already heard that Aaron Rodgers had told Mike, 'If you want me to come back for a year, I'll come back and join you,'" Bradshaw said. "I think now, you know what, let's bring Aaron back. I mean he knows the offense, he'll do well with, they'll bring in some players."
It is hard to decipher which "Mike" Bradshaw is referring to when he said that Rodgers told one of the coaches that he would be back if they wanted him back. It seems fair to assume that it was Tomlin, as Bradshaw stated that he had heard this before McCarthy was announced as the new head coach. Either way, it shows some willingness from Rodgers to continue his playing career, and it sounds like Pittsburgh is where he would want to be.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) prior to a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA.
Rodgers keeps his circle tight, so it is hard to imagine where Bradshaw would have gotten this information from. However, it would make sense that Rodgers would want to come back. He played fairly well throughout the 2025 season, and he seemed to love playing for Tomlin. Now he has the chance to reunite with the head coach that he won a Super Bowl with, who is offensive-minded. Rodgers knows most of the system, and the transition should be fairly smooth.
Pittsburgh still wants to "win now," and bringing Rodgers back might be the best way to do that. The organization is not in a great spot to land a starting-caliber quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the free agent options are not great. It is fair to say that Rodgers would be the franchise's best option at the position, which is a tough reality of where the franchise currently is.
Steelers Would Be Smart To Bring Aaron Rodgers Back As A Mentor
Rodgers is likely the best option to start for the 2026 season, and it would also be great to have him in the building again. He was a mentor to Will Howard throughout the 2025 season, and having that for another year could be huge when it comes to the development of the young quarterback.
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Steelers quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers (8) and Will Howard (18) stand on the field as the team works out during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Howard has all of the tools to be successful in the NFL, and being around Rodgers for another season would only increase the odds that Howard could have a successful career as a starter.
What do you think about Rodgers coming back to the Steelers in 2026? Let us know in the comments below!
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