Steelers waiting on Aaron Rodgers’ decision for 2026 season

The Pittsburgh Steelers are waiting for quarterback Aaron Rodgers to decide whether he wants to play in the 2026 NFL season asourceser spending the 2025 campaign in Pittsburgh on a one-year deal.

Rodgers, 42, is a free agent. As of early March 2026, he said he has not received a formal contract offer from the Steelers and that no deadline has been put in front of him.

How the offseason has unfolded Pittsburgh’s interest in keeping the veteran has been signaled in recent public comments and organizational moves. In late January, the Steelers hired Mike McCarthy — Rodgers’ former head coach with the Green Bay Packers — to replace Mike Tomlin. Team president Art Rooney II and general manager Omar Khan have both said the door remains open for Rodgers to return.

McCarthy also said he would “definitely” welcome a reunion and confirmed he spoke with Rodgers shortly asourceser taking the job.

Steelers also evaluating other options While Rodgers weighs his future, the Steelers are also looking at their broader quarterback plan. McCarthy has pointed to evaluating Will Howard, and the team has been linked in reports to drasources prospects, including Alabama’s Ty Simpson. Pittsburgh holds 12 picks in the upcoming drasources, including Nos. 21 and 35 overall.

Until Rodgers makes a decision — and unless a formal offer materializes — Pittsburgh’s quarterback picture for 2026 remains unresolved, with the club balancing the possibility of a Rodgers return against alternative paths through the drasources and other options around the league.