Aaron Rodgers returning to Steelers on one-year deal for 22nd season

Pittsburgh, Pa. — Quarterback Aaron Rodgers will return to the Pittsburgh Steelers for his 22nd NFL season after agreeing to a one-year contract, according to league reporting on May 16, 2026. The deal is reportedly worth up to $25 million, including $22 million guaranteed. Rodgers, 42, is expected to participate when the club opens organized team activities on Monday. The move reunites him with new head coach Mike McCarthy as Pittsburgh reshapes its offense for 2026.

Rodgers completed his first season in Pittsburgh in 2025 with 3,322 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions, posting a 65.7% completion rate. He went 10-7 as the Steelers’ starting quarterback, including the postseason, and helped deliver the franchise’s first division title since 2020.

McCarthy replaces Mike Tomlin, who stepped down after the 2025 wild-card loss. McCarthy previously coached Rodgers during their Green Bay tenure, a partnership that produced a Super Bowl title in the 2010 season.

Pittsburgh had placed a rare right-of-first-refusal tender on Rodgers earlier in the offseason and remained optimistic he would return despite the decision arriving in May. His new deal extends the partnership into a second season as the Steelers retool around him.

Roster and coaching reset under McCarthy

Receiver and backfield additions

The Steelers overhauled key skill positions this spring. Team MVP Kenneth Gainwell departed in free agency after signing with the Buccaneers, and Pittsburgh moved to replace him with Rico Dowdle, who is coming off a second straight 1,000-yard rushing campaign. At wide receiver, the Steelers added former Colts standout Michael Pittman and drafted Germie Bernard in the second round; Bernard led Alabama in receiving in each of the past two seasons.

Pittsburgh also added depth and competition at quarterback by drafting former Penn State passer Drew Allar in the third round. For now, the room includes 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard and veteran Mason Rudolph alongside Rodgers.

Rodgers’ 2025 performance and milestones

Durability, late-season push and records chase

Despite limited receiver depth for stretches of last season, Rodgers opened 2025 with a four-touchdown performance in a win over his former team, the Jets, and closed the regular season by firing the division-clinching, game-winning touchdown to Calvin Austin III against the Ravens. He played through a left-wrist injury suffered in Week 13 versus the Bills, missing only one game and adjusting with quicker releases behind a reshuffled line.

Rodgers’ production also moved him up the all-time lists. He passed former teammate Brett Favre for fourth place in career touchdown passes and is 13 shy of Peyton Manning for third. His 66,274 career passing yards rank fifth all time, 5,564 behind Favre at No. 4.

With McCarthy installing his system and new playmakers on the perimeter, the Steelers expect a more balanced offense designed to reduce pressure on Rodgers and create cleaner matchups outside.

OTAs begin Monday, followed by training camp competitions that will shape the receiver rotation and backup quarterback hierarchy. Rodgers will aim to push Pittsburgh deeper into January as he chases a return to the Super Bowl.