The Pittsburgh Steelers saw a leadership change after the 2025 season ended with a 24-point home playoff loss to the Houston Texans. Mike Tomlin revealed he was stepping away after 19 seasons at the helm. Remarkably, Tomlin never had a losing season, an incredible feat in the ever-competitive NFL landscape. However, his team had not won a playoff game since the 2016 season. It sounds like Tomlin believed stars like TJ Watt, Cam Heyward, and even kicker Chris Boswell deserved renewed optimism and change with new leadership, which ultimately played a role in his decision to step away.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Former Steelers HC Mike Tomlin with Aaron Rodgers and Cam Heyward during the 2025 NFL season.
Tomlin recently sat down with Maria Taylor ahead of an NBA playoff matchup between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers, where the conversation shifted toward the future of the league’s quarterback landscape. One name that naturally surfaced was Aaron Rodgers, a player whose next move continues to draw attention across the NFL. With so much uncertainty surrounding Rodgers’ future, Tomlin offered insight that reflected both respect for the veteran quarterback and an understanding of how much he can still impact a team.
Of course, Tomlin coached Rodgers during the 2025 season, and it is no secret how much praise the four-time league MVP had for playing under him. The two know each other as well as anyone, and hearing Tomlin share his opinion on who the Steelers’ quarterback could be for the 2026 season was especially intriguing, particularly considering what he knows about Rodgers.
"Man, if you had a gun to my head, I would say it is AR [Aaron Rodgers]," Tomlin said while speaking with Taylor via NBC Sports. "I just think it will be Aaron. I just think being around him for the 12 months I was around him, he has a love affair with the game of football. And not only the game, but the process, the informal moments of the development of younger guys, the interactions with his teammates. I think he has an addiction to that, and there’s only one way to feed it. And certainly he is still capable and in really good shape. I think at the end of the day, he will play football."
According to Tomlin, Rodgers still has the ability to elevate a roster and remain a defining presence under center, even at this stage of his career. Rodgers will turn 43 years old during the 2026 NFL season. Tomlin emphasized that situations and surroundings will ultimately determine how successful Rodgers can be in 2026, but made it clear that counting him out to play for Pittsburgh would be a mistake.
Justin Guido / Post-Gazette
Steelers' QB Aaron Rodgers chats with former Head Coach Mike Tomlin during a home game in Pittsburgh in the 2025 NFL season.
For a Steelers team entering a new era under Mike McCarthy, those kinds of evaluations carry weight, especially given Tomlin’s 2025 season working alongside Rodgers as his QB. His perspective not only sheds light on Rodgers’ outlook, but also reinforces just how much experience and insight he brings to the game, even in retirement.
Steelers Still Waiting To Find Out About Aaron Rodgers
As previously mentioned in this article, Rodgers did play for Pittsburgh in 2025, and the result was better than many expected. Rodgers guided the team to a 10-7 record and an AFC North title. However, the outcome in the playoffs was disappointing. Now, with McCarthy at the helm, it sounds like Rodgers could return for one more season. But until he says that himself, no one truly knows.
© Rick Wood / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Mike McCarthy with Aaron Rodgers while the two were with the Green Bay Packers.
Ultimately, everything now hinges on Rodgers and the decision he chooses to make about his future. The Steelers appear positioned to compete if he returns, especially with a veteran core still capable of making noise in the AFC. At the same time, a new coaching voice could bring the kind of spark the team has been searching for in recent years. If this truly is the end for Rodgers, Pittsburgh will once again find itself searching for answers at the most important position in sports. Either way, the direction of the franchise will become much clearer sooner rather than later.
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