The Pittsburgh Steelers are not necessarily hiring Mike McCarthy to lure quarterback Aaron Rodgers back for another season. However, the decision does increase the chances that the veteran QB may reunite with his former head coach. Steelers team president and owner Art Rooney II stated in an interview with the team”s official website that while no formal decision has been reached, they have “left the door open” for Rodgers to make a return in 2026.
“We don”t know what Aaron”s plans are right now, and that did not weigh heavily in the decision to hire McCarthy,” Rooney explained. “We”ll see where Aaron is, and we”ve left the door open, but obviously we all have to sit down and see if that makes sense. So that”ll happen sometime in the next month or so. But the decision was made based on Mike being the coach we want, and it really had very little to do with whether Aaron is going to be back or not.”
The Steelers have been accumulating draft capital, intending to make a significant move for a quarterback in the upcoming draft, which will take place in Pittsburgh. However, what once appeared to be a promising 2026 quarterback draft class has since dwindled. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is projected to be the first overall pick, with the QB-needy Las Vegas Raiders holding the top selection. Following Mendoza, Alabama”s Ty Simpson is seen as the next best option, although his limited experience as a full-time starter could deter some teams, including the Steelers.
Other quarterback prospects such as Garrett Nussmeier from LSU, Cade Klubnik from Clemson, and Drew Allar from Penn State haven”t met preseason expectations. Rodgers himself hinted at an uncertain future when discussing his situation before the regular-season finale. “Obviously, I”m 42 years old, and I”m on a one-year deal, so you know what the situation is,” he remarked. “Whenever the season ends, I”ll be a free agent, so that will give me a lot of options, if I still want to play … I mean, not a lot of options, but there”ll be options, I would think maybe one or two if I decide I still want to play.”
Rodgers” non-committal stance regarding his future following the wild-card loss was met with a positive reception in the Steelers locker room. Several players expressed to The Athletic their openness to his return in 2026. The Steelers could also view Rodgers as a viable bridge quarterback, either leading to the 2027 quarterback class or allowing 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard or a 2026 rookie more time to develop.
Rodgers had previously served as a mentor to Howard during the last season, enjoying the opportunity to work with a younger player. The Steelers” quarterback roster also includes veteran backup Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson, who spent a significant portion of the year on injured reserve. Although Rudolph stepped in as QB2 throughout the season, he is not seen as the long-term solution the Steelers are searching for.
Rooney mentioned McCarthy”s confidence in Howard, expressing that McCarthy believes he has tremendous upside. “Obviously, he feels like Mason can be a contributor,” Rooney added. “We”ll have to sit down and discuss where Aaron is, if he decides to come back, and whether that all makes sense. I think Mike was very comfortable with the quarterback room and the possibilities with the quarterback room. In particular, the fact we have a young quarterback on the roster in whom he sees some upside.”
Looking ahead, the Steelers recognize the importance of developing a young quarterback. Rooney acknowledged that McCarthy”s experience with quarterbacks like Rodgers, Dak Prescott, Brett Favre, and Rich Gannon influenced the hiring decision. “I hesitate to say that”s No. 1. I think No. 1 is we want a coach who”s going to lead the team to win a championship,” Rooney noted. “But maybe high on the list after that is someone who can develop a quarterback. And since sooner or later we”re going to be working with a young quarterback here, I think Mike”s ability to develop the next quarterback is something that certainly is important to us.”
