The Pittsburgh Steelers found a way to win the AFC North in 2025 despite not initially being the favorite to do so. The quarterback play from Aaron Rodgers was just good enough throughout the season to lead the team to the postseason. Unfortunately, it did not end all that well with a 30-6 loss at the hands of the Houston Texans. The veteran seriously contemplated retirement before signing to play in the Steel City in June of 2025; however, reports have continued to suggest that he enjoyed his one-year stint with the legendary organization, leading to plenty of speculation about the near future.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers takes a knee and looks off into the distance as the team gets ready to participate during a 2025 training camp practice in Latrobe, PA.
The four-time MVP and future Hall of Fame signal-caller joined The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday, which was pretty much his first appearance in the spotlight since the Steelers wrapped up their 2025 campaign. Fans were hoping for an answer regarding his future; however, the veteran did not go into detail about his plans. There were a couple of interesting comments about it taking two to tango, but nothing definitive came up when Rodgers spoke.
Reacting to Rodgers' first in-depth interview since the season ended, NFL insider and ProFootballTalk contributor Mike Florio joined The PM Team w/Poni & Mueller on Wednesday afternoon to converse about the Steelers. When asked if the quarterback could be holding off Pittsburgh until the legal tampering period begins, Florio noted that it's an extreme possibility.
"Wouldn't surprise me," Florio said. "You know, when he talked at one point about his future, he gave that, that sly, little, you know, 'I may have some other options...' Maybe the Vikings have changed their minds from last year. He wanted to go to Minnesota."
There aren't too many rosters that Rodgers would fit perfectly into at this stage of his career. In 2025, it was pretty much known that he was going to play for the Steelers or retire, but 2026 feels different. At this stage of his career, money comes second. His main goal is to get to the playoffs, and make a run at a Super Bowl. Most contenders already have his position figured out.
Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, the team may have to wait for a dragged-out Rodgers decision, and that could lead to the franchise missing out on a potential free agent like Malik Willis or Kyler Murray.
Sebastian Foltz / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers prepares to make a throw as the team works out during 2025 mandatory minicamp at the UPMC Sports Complex in Pittsburgh, PA.
The Rodgers experiment was a good one for the Steelers. While the team wasn't able to secure a victory in the postseason, it was without a doubt a great experience for younger players to learn from a legendary signal-caller. It's not very often that someone who has two decades of professional playing experience comes into a locker room ready to be the voice of that unit.
At the end of his segment, Florio was asked if Pittsburgh and its fan base will have an answer from Rodgers by the time the new league year kicks off on Wednesday, March 11th. It's safe to say that the insider, who has always seemed to have an odd disdain for Rodgers, doesn't think that anyone will have a clue at any point in the near future.
"God no," Florio said. "Unless he's setting us up; it's going to be a while."
The quarterback position is the arguably the most important in all of sports. The Steelers seem to be content letting Will Howard start in 2026, and then if Rodgers goes ahead and wants to come back, it will be like flipping a switch.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) points in the direction of one of his teammates as the group practices during a 2025 training camp workout at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Steelers Would Likely Be More Competitive In 2026 With Rodgers Playing
Howard may get a chance to start one day, and that could come sooner rather than later. However, reuniting Rodgers with his longtime head coach, Mike McCarthy, is probably the most efficient way for the franchise to stay football-relevant. It is all playing out like everyone expected, which is not knowing a single thing about what may or may not be going through Rodgers' mind. That ends up leading to all different types of speculation, similarly to Florio's interpretation on the radio.
#SteelerNation