Aaron Rodgers to sign 1-year Steelers deal worth up to $25 million

Aaron Rodgers, the four-time NFL MVP, is expected to sign a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers worth up to $25 million, according to people familiar with the talks on Saturday. The 42-year-old quarterback has returned to the Pittsburgh area ahead of Monday’s voluntary Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and is expected to report, the people said. An agreement has not been officially announced.

The anticipated deal is expected to include a base salary in the $22 million to $23 million range, with additional incentives available. The development follows weeks of deliberation after Pittsburgh placed a Uniform Free Agent (UFA) tender on the veteran quarterback earlier in the offseason.

The UFA tender positioned the Steelers to receive a compensatory draft pick if Rodgers had signed elsewhere before training camp, or to limit his ability to sign with another team once camp begins, according to people briefed on the process. While team officials maintained confidence throughout the spring, club owner Art Rooney II had publicly indicated the organization hoped for clarity by the NFL draft. Rodgers ultimately moved on his own timetable and returned to town in the run-up to OTAs.

Rodgers previously signed a one-year, $13.65 million deal with Pittsburgh in June 2025 after weighing his future for several months. Soon after, he said in a broadcast interview that the 2025 campaign would likely be his final season. During that year he completed 65.7% of his passes for 3,322 yards with 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions, adapting to an offense that emphasized quick decisions and yards after the catch.

The Steelers’ regular season ended on a high, with a Week 18 win over the Baltimore Ravens that clinched the AFC North title. Rodgers completed 66% of his attempts for a season-high 294 yards in that game.

His postseason, however, closed with a first-round defeat to the Houston Texans in which he was sacked four times and threw a late interception returned for a touchdown. Even so, Rodgers said late last season that he felt strong physically and wanted any decision about his future to be driven by desire rather than health.

Steelers depth chart and coaching context

Draft addition at quarterback

As the team awaited Rodgers’ decision, Pittsburgh added depth by drafting Penn State quarterback Drew Allar in the third round. Team officials have said the selection was unrelated to the veteran’s process and was made to strengthen the room behind the starter. The move gives the Steelers a longer-term development option while preserving flexibility for the present season.

Familiarity with the head coach

New head coach Mike McCarthy, hired in January to succeed Mike Tomlin, has a long history with Rodgers from 13 seasons together in Green Bay. McCarthy has previously expressed interest in working with Rodgers again and praised the quarterback’s impact when discussing the roster earlier this offseason. That familiarity is expected to ease the transition as the staff finalizes the offensive plan for camp.

Contract framework and roster mechanics

Base salary and incentives

The expected one-year agreement is structured with a base between $22 million and $23 million and incentives that could push total compensation toward $25 million, according to people familiar with the terms. The design reflects Pittsburgh’s approach to keeping short-term flexibility while compensating performance.

Implications of the UFA tender

By deploying the UFA tender, the Steelers protected themselves against losing the quarterback without a return and preserved negotiating leverage into the summer. With Rodgers now anticipated to re-sign and report for OTAs, the procedural step appears to have served its purpose in guiding the timeline toward a conclusion before the heart of the preseason.

An official announcement and contract filing have not been disclosed. Attention now turns to the timing of the signing, the structure of any incentives, and how the depth chart shapes up through OTAs and into training camp.