The Pittsburgh Steelers are patiently waiting for Aaron Rodgers to make his decision about playing in the NFL for the upcoming season.
Rodgers, 42, led the Steelers to an AFC North championship and postseason appearance in 2025. The four-time league MVP threw for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Based on his performance late in the regular season, it appears the former Green Bay Packers Super Bowl champion has more to give.
Rodgers appears to have limited options in free agency. The Minnesota Vikings are one potential option for Rodgers. The Vikings were interested in Rodgers last year. Running back Aaron Jones recruited his former teammate to Minnesota last week.
Per Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom, the Los Angeles Rams had “lukewarm support” for signing Rodgers in the offseason if 2025 NFL MVP Matthew Stafford chose not to return after losing the NFC championship to the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
“Had Matthew Stafford opted to retire instead of return to the Rams, sources indicated there was at least some lukewarm support for Rodgers there,” La Canfora wrote.
La Canfora’s anonymous sources believe Rodgers will return to the Steelers, if he returns to the NFL at all next season. One league general manager doesn’t think Rodgers will want to deal with the situation in Minnesota.
“It’s Pittsburgh or nowhere, that’s how I see it,” said the NFL general manager.
“Minnesota considered it before, but they can’t afford to screw it up after letting (Sam) Darnold go… Rodgers has such an ego, man. I don’t think he’s willing to go there for a few million bucks to compete with (JJ) McCarthy. He’s not wired that way. He’s comfortable in Pittsburgh.”
New Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy has experience coaching Rodgers with the Packers. That combination could help Pittsburgh decide to run it back with its veterans instead of rebuilding around a young quarterback in 2026.
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