In an eerily similar offseason to 2025, the Steelers continue to wait on Aaron Rodgers. This time, however, the team did not seem to expect the process to drag on like it has.
While Rodgers went into the 2025 season expecting it to be his last, the aging great changed his tune and has been talking to Mike McCarthy and Omar Khan this offseason. But no deal is in place. The Steelers have also not heard for certain whether Rodgers will indeed return for a 21st season, and the delay is approaching the two-month mark.
The Steelers expected to hear from Rodgers on his future around mid-February, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. After nothing emerged, a new loose deadline placed free agency as the next window. When Rodgers did not let his 2025 employer know about his interest in a second season at that point, Art Rooney II pointed to the draft as the next point in which the team expected to find out the future Hall of Famer’s plans.
Rodgers, 42, did not sign with the Steelers until just before mandatory minicamp last year. The quarterback cited personal reasons at the time for the wait. Although Rodgers would seemingly be able to reassimilate into McCarthy’s offense fairly easily — even if the veteran HC has made tweaks since his Green Bay years — Pittsburgh will be hosting the draft and may be in the QB market.
Ty Simpson has come up as a potential Pittsburgh option. It would make sense for the Steelers to strongly consider Simpson at No. 21, seeing as they have not finished below .500 since 2003 and annually lack access to drafts’ top QB prospects, but multiple reports have pointed to the team being more likely to avoid that path. The Steelers passed on Jaxson Dart last year, something the Giants expected when they did not trade in front of them. It was viewed as likely by that point Rodgers would join the then-Mike Tomlin-led team. Tomlin’s presence drove Rodgers to Pittsburgh, and while Rooney expected the HC’s exit to impact the QB’s future with the team, McCarthy being tabbed as the successor pried the door back open.
Kirk Cousins loomed as a possible backup option last year, though the Falcons ended up keeping him out of trades (as they wanted an acquiring team to pick up a large chunk of his 2025 compensation), and Schefter adds the veteran also loomed as the Steelers’ likely fallback option behind Rodgers this offseason. As the Steelers have waited out Rodgers once again, Cousins signed with the Raiders.
Jimmy Garoppolo remains unsigned, as does 2024 Steeler starter Russell Wilson (who hoped to re-sign in 2025 but did not draw much Steelers interest). Beyond that duo, the free agent market consists of backup or third-string options following Cousins’ Las Vegas commitment.
The Steelers will continue to develop 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard, and Mason Rudolph has one year remaining on his contract. Based on reporting to date, it would surprise if Rodgers did not reprise his role as Pittsburgh’s starter. Still, the former Packers and Jets starter has gone from being “90% retired” as of winter 2023 to potentially playing four more seasons. That might be a stretch, injecting more risk into the Steelers’ strategy.
The Steelers have their eggs in this basket once again. While that provides a decent indication Rodgers will return, the team passing on Simpson and then seeing a Rodgers retirement commence will create a potentially embarrassing situation.
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