Free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers is planning to visit the Pittsburgh Steelers to further discuss his future with the team, as reported by NFL insider Ian Rapoport. While no deal is currently in place, there is speculation that the visit could be the next step toward getting him signed for the 2026 season. Rodgers threw for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns in his first season with Pittsburgh. Following a mutual parting of ways between the Steelers and long-time head coach Mike Tomlin, a return to the Steel City by the 42-year-old veteran would also mean a reunion between Rodgers and new head coach Mike McCarthy after the two spent 13 seasons together in Green Bay, including a Super Bowl-winning 2010 campaign. The Steelers added quarterback Drew Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and should the team find itself in a situation where it is forced to move forward without Rodgers, the Penn State rookie would likely compete with seven-year veteran Mason Rudolph and 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard for the starting job.
When a source was asked if the noise about veteran free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers going to the Arizona Cardinals was real, the source said, "Not at all," according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN. If Rodgers decides to return for a 22nd year in the NFL, it will only be for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Cardinals have veteran signal-callers Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew under center, and just drafted former University of Miami QB Carson Beck in the third round of the 2026 NFL draft. All signs this offseason have pointed to a reunion between Rodgers and Pittsburgh, although recent reports suggest the Steelers' brass could be growing impatient since the 42-year-old has yet to make a decision on his playing status for the 2026 season. Even if another team like Arizona were to make an offer to Rodgers, the Steelers have the right of first refusal to match any offer sheet. They have Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and rookie Drew Allar in their QB room, but if Rodgers re-signs, he'll be the starter once again for the upcoming season. Despite improvements to the team's WR room, Rodgers figures to be a low-upside QB2 in superflex fantasy leagues if he's playing in 2026. RotoBaller currently has him ranked as the No. 29 player at the position.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac writes that the Pittsburgh Steelers' "patience could be starting to wear thin" with free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers since he still has yet to commit to re-signing with the organization to be their starter in 2026. Although nothing is official, all reports have indicated that the 42-year-old future Hall of Famer is leaning toward re-signing with Pittsburgh for a 22nd year in the NFL. The Steelers have the right of first refusal and can match any offer sheet that Rodgers might receive from another team after they placed an unrestricted free-agent tender on him. Mason Rudolph and Will Howard were already on Pittsburgh's roster at the QB position before the team selected former Penn State signal-caller Drew Allar at No. 76 overall in this year's NFL draft. If Rodgers re-signs with the Steelers, as expected, he'll be the starter under center going into Week 1 this fall. The Steelers have upgraded their WR room this offseason, but Rodgers would continue to be a low-upside QB2 in superflex fantasy football leagues.
Steelers Place Right-of-First-Refusal Tender on Aaron Rodgers
The Pittsburgh Steelers placed the rare right-of-first-refusal tender on free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Tuesday, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. It means that Rodgers can accept a 10% raise from last year's salary, which would pay him around $15 million in 2026, and the Steelers also will have the right to match any offer sheet he would sign with another team. Rodgers would only be able to sign with the Steelers once training camp begins, as another condition of the tender. The 42-year-old future Hall of Famer has not informed Pittsburgh of his decision on whether he wants to continue his career and re-sign with the team, but all signs continue to point to a reunion with new head coach Mike McCarthy. The Steelers drafted QB Drew Allar in the third round last week, but if Rodgers returns, he will be the team's starter under center for a second straight season. Pittsburgh has added some reinforcements at receiver behind DK Metcalf, including former Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr., but Rodgers should still be viewed as more of a low-upside, low-end QB2 in superflex leagues in 2026 if he's back for another season.
Former Steelers Coach Thinks Aaron Rodgers Will Return to Pittsburgh
Former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, who will join NBC's Football Night in America in 2026, said that at the end of the day, he thinks free-agent veteran Aaron Rodgers will be the team's quarterback this season. Both Tomlin and new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy seem confident in Rodgers' abilities, even though he'll turn 43 this December. Pittsburgh had Will Howard and Mason Rudolph in the QB room before selecting rookie Drew Allar in the third round of last week's NFL draft. Even with Allar in the mix now, Rodgers would likely be the Steelers' starter under center to begin the 2026 regular season if he ultimately re-signs in Pittsburgh. The Steelers wouldn't mind having Allar be mentored by one of the game's best at the position. Rodgers, a four-time MVP and 10-time Pro Bowler, was the QB19 in fantasy in 2025, throwing 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions with 3,322 passing yards in 16 games. The Steelers have added some talent at WR, most notably Michael Pittman Jr., but Rodgers will still be considered more of a low-end QB2 in fantasy football if he returns to the Steel City for one more season.
Mike McCarthy has Confidence in Aaron Rodgers if he Re-Signs
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy didn't give a firm timeframe for when in the offseason program he would want free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers to join the team, but he expressed confidence in Rodgers if the team ends up re-signing him, according to Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. "I think Aaron is probably more in tune than we would realize. But I have confidence in where he would be the day he would arrive, if that's his decision," McCarthy said. There is still some uncertainty as to Rodgers' future, and nothing is expected to be announced before this week's NFL draft, but all signs continue to point to the future Hall of Famer returning for another year in the Steel City to reunite with McCarthy. The 42-year-old four-time NFL MVP led Pittsburgh to the postseason in 2025, but he finished as the QB19 in fantasy scoring with 3,322 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 16 regular-season games. The Steelers added receiver Michael Pittman Jr. in a trade this offseason, but Rodgers should still be viewed as a low-upside, low-end QB2 in fantasy if he officially returns to Pittsburgh for one more year in 2026.
Aaron Rodgers' Decision Not Expected Before NFL Draft
The Pittsburgh Steelers are still awaiting word from free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers on his future, but per NFL Insider Ian Rapoport, no decision is expected before the NFL Draft. The two sides went through a similar courtship last offseason before the then-41-year-old future Hall of Famer started 16 games for the Steelers, throwing for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions while leading the team to a division title. Pittsburgh's voluntary minicamp opens on Monday, and 2025 6th-round pick Will Howard is expected to lead the first team offense. With this week's NFL Draft taking place in their own backyard, the Steelers hold the 21st and 53rd selections in a year where the quarterback position is thought to fall off precipitously after presumed first overall pick, Fernando Mendoza.
Aaron Rodgers Remains a Free Agent Ahead of the NFL Draft
Free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers remains unsigned heading into the back half of April. As the NFL Draft approaches, Rodgers still hasn't given any indication as to where (or if) he'll be playing in 2026. The future Hall of Famer is coming off a solid season, all things considered. Now 42 years old, he has managed to rank as a top-18 fantasy quarterback each of the last two years. Across 16 games in 2025, he completed 65.7% of his pass attempts for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. It was the lowest passing yards total of his career (minimum 10 games), but that can be explained by the fact that he had a weak receiving corps around him. DK Metcalf didn't operate like a true WR1 in his first season with the Steelers, and Calvin Austin III failed to take a fourth-year leap. Heading into 2026, Rodgers still has the ability to keep teams in a competitive position, as he did with the Steelers last year. We wouldn't be surprised to see him sign shortly after the NFL Draft. That's what he did in 2025 with the Steelers; once it was clear they didn't select an immediate starter in the draft, he was essentially assured the starting job, so he put pen to paper. There are rumors that the Steelers, whose current QB1 is Mason Rudolph, won't draft a quarterback in the first round. At this point, a post-draft return to Pittsburgh (and a reunion with head coach Mike McCarthy) seems like the most probable outcome for Rodgers. He's a low-end QB2 in redraft leagues, and he's merely a one-year bridge option in dynasty formats.
ESPN's Adam Schefter said on the Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday that "it does sound like Aaron Rodgers back in Pittsburgh is happening." "That would be my guess right now," Schefter added. Rodgers technically is still a free agent, but the fact that he's been speaking with new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy frequently is a hint that the future Hall of Fame signal-caller is leaning toward re-signing with the team for a 22nd season in the NFL. The 42-year-old has become notorious for taking his time in the offseason to decide on his playing future, but owner and president Art Rooney II recently said the organization is hoping that Rodgers will make his decision by the NFL draft at the end of April. If Rodgers returns for a second season in Pittsburgh, he'll have a new weapon in receiver Michael Pittman Jr., but for fantasy purposes, he'd still be a low-end QB2 with limited upside in what will very likely be his final year in the league. The four-time MVP finished as the QB19 in fantasy in 2025 with 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 16 regular-season games. A reunion with McCarthy won't suddenly make Rodgers a QB1 in fantasy again.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy said that he talked to veteran free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Monday night, according to Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show. There has been no resolution on the Rodgers front yet this offseason, but owner and president Art Rooney II said recently that the organization expects the future Hall of Famer to decide whether he wants to re-sign with the team before the NFL draft at the end of April. Right now, the only QBs on Pittsburgh's roster are Mason Rudolph and Will Howard. The Steelers are very high on Howard, but if Rodgers decides he wants to run it back in the Steel City in 2026, he'll obviously be the team's QB1 this fall. The 42-year-old four-time MVP and 10-time Pro Bowler has stayed healthy the last two years after tearing his ACL with the Jets in 2023, but he's been very mediocre for fantasy football managers. Last year, Rodgers threw for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions to finish as the QB19. He'll have a new receiver in Michael Pittman Jr. if he returns, but even so, Rodgers would still be more of a low-end QB2 with limited upside at the end of his illustrious career.