The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2026 offseason is in full swing as they get set for the upcoming free agency period. The Steelers have the ninth-most cap space in the NFL, and have plenty of money to play with. Their top priorities have been theorized to be guard, defensive tackle, and cornerback. That leaves the quarterback solution being figured out in either the draft or Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers signed with the Steelers last in the 2025 offseason after he was unsure if he wanted to play. Rodgers wanted to play for the former Head Coach Mike Tomlin, who resigned after this past season.
Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin and quarterback Aaron Rodgers embrace following Pittsburgh's 29-24 win over the Detroit Lions in Week 16 of the 2025 NFL Regular Season.
With Tomlin gone, it was unclear what Rodgers would want, but now fans have some clarity. Recent reports said the odds of a Rodgers return are minuscule, but one Steelers insider wrote the opposite. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote an article about Rodgers' return and why it's a strong possibility. He also explained that Rodgers committing to come back won't take as long as it did in 2025, giving great insight as to why.
"McCarthy wants Rodgers to return, and the signs are more likely than not he will be back - even more so than last year at this time," Dulac wrote.
Fans already knew that McCarthy wanted Rodgers back; he said it himself in his introductory press conference, but now it's even more likely now compared to 2025, when no one really knew what the future Hall of Famer would decide to do. Dulac also offered up some other information into why Rodgers' return won't take as long it did a year ago.
"He especially loved winning a division title and getting to the postseason again, even though the Steelers were ousted in the wild-card round by the Houston Texans," Dulac noted.
The Steelers are not going to let this drag on; they want an answer on what Rodgers intends to do before free agency. The Steelers in 2025 waited the entire offseason for Rodgers to decide his intentions. A decision that could have easily cost them the season. This time around, things are expected to be be different. Rodgers has been rejuvenated by his time with the Steelers; he won a division and played in the postseason for the first time since 2021.
Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during a postseason matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans.
It is easy to see why Rodgers would want to come back for one more season. For the Steelers, it may be just as easy; he never showed signs of being washed up or incapable of playing anymore. Rodgers not only showed he has some left in the tank, but played his best stretch of football for the Steelers when it mattered most — late in the season. The Steelers won four of their last five games, and the defense stepped up, but it was Rodgers who really got the team over the hump.
Steelers Will Definitely Give Rodgers Weapons
Rodgers' receivers in 2025 were DK Metcalf, Adam Thielen, Calvin Austin III, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Thielen was a 35-year-old cut mid-season by the Minnesota Vikings, and Scantling was cut by the San Francisco 49ers.
While Metcalf is a respectable option, he's likely best suited as a number two option. The 2026 campaign will be a different story for the Steelers' wide receiver room; as they could be planning to draft a wide receiver high and may even double-dip.
Karl Roster / Pittsburgh Steelers
DK Metcalf carries the football against the Minnesota Vikings during the 2025 regular season.
McCarthy's West Coast offense requires good receivers; all of his previous teams have had solid receiving rooms. He is going to make sure Rodgers will have what he needs to make this reunion work (if it truly does happen). They aren't far off; they already have a great tight end room. Drafting two receivers and re-signing Austin for depth could make all the difference for the Steelers.
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