"The Attention Is Addicting": Steelers' Aaron Rodgers Crushed By NFL Legend

The Pittsburgh Steelers are, yet again, awaiting a decision from their starting quarterback from 2025, Aaron Rodgers. Last offseason, the Steelers were stuck in the Rodgers cycle, with constant rumors of a decision, and the process lasted all the way until June. The same pattern is holding in 2026, where there are just constant rumors about Rodgers' potential decision, but there is no word of anything happening officially. The Steelers cannot afford to wait all the way until the summer again. 

As it stands, the Steelers seem pretty interested in bringing back the 42-year-old veteran, who led them to a division title in 2025. Pittsburgh seems confident in bringing him back, believing Rodgers still has a lot left in the tank. The quarterback put up respectable numbers last year, even playing on a broken wrist. However, the drama surrounding him each and every time he makes a career decision has many fed up. 

NFL Hall of Famer Cris Carter commented on Rodgers' dragging out his choice on his Fully Loaded podcast. 

"We'll see if he disappears off into the sunset like he said he was. We'll see. That attention is addicting," Carter said. 

Rodgers continues to prolong his retirement decision, and it ultimately hurts the team. The Steelers cannot prepare for the NFL Draft and the offseason completely if they're unsure of the status of their starter. 

The team is surrounded by speculation of who the quarterback will be. What ifs regarding who the quarterback would be if Rodgers hung them up. Would they go with the young Will Howard, Mason Rudolph, or a veteran? These questions would easily be answered if Rodgers just decided. 

In 2025, Rodgers looked like a solid quarterback. He didn't fill up the stat sheet or have any crazy games, but he was good enough to win, and he limited turnovers. Rodgers' leadership was vital and, hopefully, served as a positive role model to Howard. Pittsburgh needs a decision from the future Hall of Famer, so they can focus on what's important: the draft and preparation for camp.

The Steelers would be way better off knowing who their QB is when they draft this year. The quarterback class in this year's draft is considered weak by many, and the Steelers would be the most competitive with Rodgers at the helm. 

The organization has made it known that they want to remain competitive in 2026, and a full rebuild is not something they're interested in, as of now. If Rodgers does end up retiring, the Steelers will have to count on Howard and/or a veteran signal-caller.

Rodgers' decision holds a ton of power, and clearly, he enjoys the spotlight, as Carter alluded to. Pittsburgh needs to demand a decision before the draft, so they can go on with their offseason work, without worrying about whether or not their aging, bridge quarterback is retiring or not. 

Steelers Could Put All Of Their Faith Into Howard

If Rodgers decides that he's done, it leaves Howard and Rudolph as the only arms on their roster. While it's certain that the Steelers would sign another veteran, Howard would be an interesting young prospect to take a look at. The 2027 draft is thought to have a lot of really promising quarterbacks, but Howard could be a starter-capable player already on the roster. Many fans have full faith in the former CFP national champion and wouldn't mind seeing what he could do. 

If Howard were to pan out, the Steelers could focus on other areas of need next year. Pittsburgh has made strides this offseason by upgrading its weapons, compared to last year, to set up a future quarterback for success. Howard is surrounded by talent that would help him be successful should Rodgers call it a career. 

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