The Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II expressed confidence before the 2026 NFL Draft that a decision from Aaron Rodgers was coming soon, but weeks later, the 42-year-old quarterback still hasn’t signed.
Recent reports from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport suggest Rodgers is expected to visit Pittsburgh and could finalize a deal for the 2026 season, though no agreement has been reached.
Why Aaron Rodgers’ Contract Negotiations With the Steelers Stalled
The holdup, according to NBC Sports’ Mike Florio, comes down to one thing, which is money. Florio described the entire negotiation as “kind of abnormal,” noting that Rodgers has no leverage because no other team has shown interest in signing him, yet the Steelers don’t have much leverage either, given that the alternatives are Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, or rookie Drew Allar.
Rodgers played the 2025 season on a one-year, $13.65 million contract that included $10 million guaranteed and up to $5.85 million in incentives, $500,000 of which he earned by helping Pittsburgh reach the playoffs.
In 16 games, he completed 65.7% of his passes for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. Rodgers led the Steelers to a 10-6 record and an AFC North title. The season ended with a Wild Card loss to the Houston Texans, but the four-time NFL MVP showed he could still perform at a high level.
According to PFSN’s Offense Impact Metric, the Steelers’ offense posted an impact score of 76.4 last season, ranking 14th in the league. That wouldn’t have been possible without Rodgers, which is why the team has interest in bringing him back.
The Steelers recently placed a rarely used UFA tender on Rodgers, which offers a 10% raise over his 2025 salary, putting roughly $15 million on the table. The 42-year-old quarterback, understandably, wants more than that. Florio noted that a fair salary for 2026 likely starts in the $20 million range, pointing out that Malik Willis is getting paid $22.5 million per year by the Miami Dolphins.
Florio estimated the two sides could eventually settle around $20 million in base salary plus incentives that push the total beyond $25 million.
Despite the prolonged negotiations, Rodgers is still the Steelers’ clearest path to contention in 2026. New head coach Mike McCarthy, who won Super Bowl 45 with Rodgers in Green Bay, has maintained regular contact with the quarterback and publicly welcomed his return.
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Howard, a 2025 draft pick, has yet to take a regular-season snap, and third-round pick Allar out of Penn State is a developmental project. Neither is ready to lead a team with playoff expectations. Rodgers’ return will also benefit the young quarterbacks behind him.
McCarthy was hired in part for his track record developing signal-callers, and having Howard and Allar learn behind a four-time MVP gives both players time to grow without the pressure of starting immediately. If Rodgers does sign, the Steelers are expected to part ways with Rudolph.
