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.
Steelers Expect Decision From Aaron Rodgers Before the Draft
Pittsburgh Steelers owner and president Art Rooney II said on Sunday that he expects veteran free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers to decide on whether he wants to re-sign with the team before next month's NFL draft, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Although the future Hall of Famer hasn't been rumored to be talking to any other teams since the start of the new league year in March, it remains unclear whether he wants to return for a 22nd NFL season under old head coach Mike McCarthy. The 42-year-old four-time MVP and 10-time Pro Bowler threw for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 16 regular-season starts to help lead Pittsburgh to the playoffs, but he was demolished in the Wild-Card round of the postseason and finished as the QB19 in fantasy scoring. If Rodgers returns to run it back with McCarthy, he'll have more receiving help in Michael Pittman Jr., but he'd still be more of a low-end QB2 in superflex leagues with limited upside at the end of his illustrious career. The risk of injury is as high as ever with Rodgers, although he missed just one game in the last two seasons after tearing his Achilles in 2023 with the Jets.
Mike McCarthy Would Welcome an Aaron Rodgers Reunion
While 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers remains unsigned two weeks into the start of the 2026 league year, new Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy would seem to welcome a reunion with the player he coached for 13 seasons and with whom he won a Super Bowl in 2010. At an event honoring late Packers president Bob Harlan, McCarthy was asked about the potential reunion and offered that, "It'd be a great story." A four-time MVP, Rodgers has been noncommittal about his future in the league following a 2025 campaign with the Steelers that saw him throw for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns, both among the lowest totals of his 20-year career. If he does choose to return for a 21st season, Pittsburgh would be the most obvious fit. A playoff team in 2025, the hiring of McCarthy suggests they still view their competitive window as open, but they head into 2026 with Mason Rudolph and Will Howard atop the depth chart.
Aaron Rodgers has Good Things to Say About Mike McCarthy
Pittsburgh Steelers impending free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers had nothing but good things to say about new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy, who was Rodgers' former head coach with the Green Bay Packers. "Mike McCarthy is one of the great guys in the league, and he really cares about the players. He's an exceptional human being with a big heart," Rodgers said. The 42-year-old future Hall of Famer and four-time MVP also said there's no deadline for him to decide on whether he's returning for a 22nd year in the NFL, and those conversations will be down the line. The relationship between Rodgers and McCarthy soured toward the end of their time together in Green Bay, but McCarthy's presence in the Steel City probably won't be a deal-breaker if Rodgers wants to play another season with the Steelers. Rodgers led Pittsburgh to the playoffs in 2025, but if he plays again in 2026, he'll be a low-end QB2 in fantasy with limited upside.
Steelers Don't Have Deadline Set for Aaron Rodgers Decision
Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan said on Tuesday that the team has not set a deadline for impending free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers to decide whether he will play in 2026, according to Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. However, Khan told reporters that he's been in communication with Rodgers and doesn't "foresee this going like it did last year." The 42-year-old future Hall of Famer was considering retirement last offseason and didn't agree to a one-year deal with Pittsburgh until just before mandatory minicamp in June. Rodgers led the Steelers to the postseason last year, but he finished as the QB19 in overall fantasy points with 3,322 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 16 regular-season games. It remains to be seen if new head coach Mike McCarthy, who won a Super Bowl with Rodgers in Green Bay, will be able to persuade Rodgers to continue his career in the Steel City. If Rodgers does return to the Steelers in 2026, he'll be more of a midrange QB2 in fantasy, at best.
ESPN's Brooke Pryor reports that she gets the sense that Pittsburgh Steelers impending free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers is "more likely to come back than not" in 2026. The Steelers probably want an answer sooner rather than later from Rodgers, especially with the scouting combine coming up in a few weeks. The difference between this year and last year is that Pittsburgh has QB Will Howard on the roster after they drafted him in the sixth round in 2025. Mason Rudolph is also in the QB room, but new head coach Mike McCarthy is apparently a big fan of Howard and laid out plans to develop the young QB during his head-coaching interview. Rodgers led Pittsburgh to the playoffs and threw for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 16 regular-season games in his first year with the team, but he finished as the QB19 in fantasy in what was an underwhelming offense. If Rodgers returns to the Steel City for a 22nd NFL season, he'll be a low-end QB2 again with a limited ceiling for fantasy purposes.
Steelers in No Hurry for Aaron Rodgers' Decision on Playing Future
The Pittsburgh Steelers definitely want impending free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers to return for the 2026 season, but they are in no hurry for a resolution, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The Steelers don't think it will take quite as long as it did last year for the situation to resolve itself, and in the meantime, they are content to focus on the development of second-year QB Will Howard. With Rodgers away, Howard will have an opportunity to compete to become the QB1 over Mason Rudolph. But it remains to be seen if the former sixth-rounder can become a viable starter in the NFL, and it will be a moot point if Rodgers re-signs in the Steel City. Expect Rodgers to take his time to decide so he can miss the voluntary portion of the offseason program. If the future Hall of Famer does return to Pittsburgh for another year, he'll be a low-end QB2 option for fantasy after throwing for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 16 regular-season games in 2025.
Aaron Rodgers Seriously Considering Return to Steelers
Forty-two-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers is weighing his options following the 20th season of his NFL career, and the odds of a return to the Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly increasing, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Rodgers has spoken with Steelers teammates and new head coach Mike McCarthy, for whom he played the first 13 years of his career in Green Bay, and there is a growing sense he could sign a new deal this offseason. Rodgers led the Steelers to an AFC North title in his first season in Pittsburgh, completing over 65% of his passes for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns to seven interceptions. In a year with few quarterback options available on the open market and a rookie class relatively thin on elite talent, the team is hoping for a decision from Rodgers before the start of free agency in mid-March.