The Pittsburgh Steelers have been a major talking point during the 2026 offseason as the franchise has gone through a ton of change for the first time in a long time. The organization essentially has an entirely new coaching staff under new head coach, Mike McCarthy, and the quarterback position remains up in the air as Aaron Rodgers is deciding on what he wants to do with his future. The fan base is anxious to hear news when it comes to Rodgers as he seems to be the best option at quarterback for the 2026 season, while Plan B at the position seems to include either Mason Rudolph or Will Howard.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike McCarthy (right) speaking with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) during a practice together in Green Bay.
The Steelers went out and hired one of Rodgers' former head coaches during the 2026 offseason, and that only ramped up headlines discussing Rodgers coming back for the 2026 season. He and McCarthy won a Super Bowl together, and it seems like the two will be reuniting for at least one more season in Pittsburgh. The head coach appeared on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday, and he was asked about where things stand currently with the veteran quarterback. He did not commit to anything, but things seem to be going well based on what McCarthy said.
"I've talked to Aaron regularly," McCarthy said. "We'll continue to do so. We're just working through it. When it's time to fully address it, we will. It's a process that he's going through that I am comfortable with. We've had very, very positive conversations on a weekly basis."
McCarthy seems to be completely okay with Rodgers taking his time on making a decision, and the two have had consistent lines of communication. This likely means that the coach knows whether or not the quarterback will be returning, but the two are keeping the situation close to the vest for the time being.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
McCarthy has made it known before that he and Rodgers have stayed in constant communication, and that is a good thing as Rodgers makes this decision. McCarthy filled out his coaching staff with a lot of coaches that he is familiar with from his time with the Green Bay Packers, which means most of those coaches are familiar with Rodgers as well. McCarthy was asked about this during his appearance.
"Oh yeah, he talks to the coaches that are there," McCarthy said. "A lot of very positive and healthy communication going on."
It is hard not to draw conclusions from this statement from McCarthy. He made it clear the quarterback has been in contact with the other coaches on the staff, which probably means there is a good chance that he will be returning. These could also be coaches from his past that he is just reconnecting with, or they could be discussing schematics and how they want to attack the 2026 season.
Steelers Expect A Decision By The 2026 NFL Draft
The Steelers have done a really good job over the last two years when it comes to giving Rodgers space and time while making these big decisions. There have been no stern deadlines in place, but it has been made clear that the Steelers do expect a decision from the quarterback by the time the 2026 NFL Draft rolls around. That seems like good timing for the organization to find out about the future of the quarterback position.
Associated Press
Steelers' new head coach Mike McCarthy catching up with his former quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) while coaching the Dallas Cowboys.
There is a chance that the Steelers will be notified of Rodgers' decision, but the quarterback may not sign right away. He did something similar to this in 2025 so that he would not be publicly scrutinized for skipping out on OTAs. Based on this interview, it seems like Rodgers will be Pittsburgh's quarterback in 2026.
What do you think of McCarthy's comments on Rodgers? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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