The Pittsburgh Steelers were rumored to be the favorite to sign Aaron Rodgers for much of the 2025 offseason, before signing a contract with the team after the NFL Draft in June of 2025. Things could be headed down a similar path in 2026, as Rodgers remains on the free-agent market but is heavily linked to the Steelers.
Many believe Rodgers will return for his second year as their quarterback to reunite with his former head coach, Mike McCarthy.
Steelers’ Legend Rod Woodson Urges the Team to Move on From Aaron Rodgers
When asked about Rodgers, Hall of Fame cornerback and safety Rod Woodson on “The Rich Eisen Show” said, “Is he going to play? I get kind of tired of it, like listen if he’s going to play, just say he’s going to play.”
Rodgers ranked as the No. 29 quarterback in PFSN’s Quarterback Impact Metric (QBi) in 2025, completing 65.7% of his passes for 3,332 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He led the Steelers to a 10-6 record in 16 games and an AFC North Division title before falling to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round of the NFL Playoffs.
While Rodgers was efficient and didn’t turn the ball over much, his 6.7 yards per attempt was tied for the lowest of his career in a full season, and his 10.2 yards per completion was the lowest in a full season.
Rodgers and the Steelers’ inability to move the ball down the field hampered them significantly at times during the season. This led to much of the passing game being funneled through running back Kenneth Gainwell, who led the team with 73 receptions.
“The team shouldn’t wait for Aaron Rodgers, they need to move forward,” Woodson added. If Rodgers were to retire or not return, the Steelers’ in-house options at quarterback are Mason Rudolph and Will Howard.
The veteran Rudolph has started 14 games as a Steeler in his career, leading the team to an 8-5-1 record in those games, while completing 64.5% of his passes for 3,395, 21 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.
Meanwhile, Howard has yet to take a snap in his NFL career. The 24-year-old was a sixth-round draft pick by the Steelers in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, and many Steelers fans have pushed for the team to let him play.
In addition to in-house options, the Steelers could look to the draft to address the quarterback position.
Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is linked to them as a potential first-round pick and several other mid- to late-round quarterbacks as possibilities, including Drew Allar, Garrett Nussmeier, and Carson Beck.
Whether or not Rodgers returns, drafting a quarterback remains a possibility for the Steelers as they look for a long-term answer at the position. In the meantime, Rodgers’ future figures to remain a major storyline.
