The Pittsburgh Steelers have been going through the same song and dance with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers that the organization went through during the 2025 offseason. Some believe that the four-time league MVP has been holding the franchise "hostage" by taking his sweet time making a decision on his future. However, it is important to remember that retirement is a major decision for a player like Rodgers, and there really is no rush on this process. He might be the best option for the Steelers in 2026, but the franchise also has some young guys that could step in as well.
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Steelers General Manager Omar Khan speaks with the media during the NFL's Scouting Combine.
It was reported by 93.7 The Fan on Thursday that the quarterback would be flying into Pittsburgh this weekend to meet with the team. The expectation is that progress would be made on a potential deal, and a deal could even be signed. Mandatory minicamp does not begin until the beginning of June, so progress on a deal might be made but the quarterback could be waiting to put pen to paper. General Manager Omar Khan joined Chris Mack on Westwood One for an interview on Friday, and the first thing he was asked about was this meeting with Rodgers.
"Yeah, you know, I don't know specifically where Aaron is," Khan said. "I can tell you that Aaron and I, and Coach [Mike McCarthy] and Aaron, and Aaron's representatives, we've had some good conversations since the season ended. You know, since Mike got hired, it's been positive. But I don't know where he is at this moment. We continue to have conversation and they're positive, we had a good experience with him last year. I think he would probably echo the same thing. The conversations continue."
Khan seemed to be pretty careful when choosing his words. He said he does not know specifically where Rodgers is, which is interesting wording. This could mean he knows that Rodgers is in town; he just doesn't know where he is staying or if he has landed yet. It could also mean that Khan truly has no clue where the quarterback is and there is no meeting scheduled for this weekend between the two sides.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers warms up before a home game against the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2025 season.
Many fans were under the impression that bringing Rodgers back would be simple, but the quarterback would be well within his rights to want more money than what he was paid in 2025. He stated after he signed last year that he would have signed for less, but he is a family man now. It might take some more money to keep him working for another year, which obviously takes him away from his wife a little bit.
The quarterback made roughly $13 million in 2025, and the expectation is for him to land a deal in the $20-$25 million range. Kirk Cousins signed a deal where he will be making $20 million in 2026, so that should be the bar for Rodgers as it is somewhat reasonable to compare the two veteran quarterbacks. Rodgers should even command more, as he is expected to be the starter for the entire season, while Cousins could be replaced quickly by No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 in Dublin, Ireland.
Steelers Seemed To Give Aaron Rodgers His Love For The Game Again
Rodgers seemed almost miserable at times while he was with the New York Jets, but in Pittsburgh in 2025 he seemed to have a good amount of fun. That is something that could keep him coming back for another year. If football is fun for him with the Steelers, and the roster continues to improve, there is no reason to think he wouldn't want to suit up for another season in the black and gold.
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