We are less than two weeks away from the 2026 NFL Draft, and Aaron Rodgers has yet to make a decision on his future in the league.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are all too familiar with this dance after going through the same process last year. Many believe Rodgers will come back for another season, but there’s always the unknown. In the meantime, the Steelers are left to build a team with a mystery in the most important position.
Chad Johnson Gives His Take on Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers Situation
After Mike Tomlin walked away from Pittsburgh and the Steelers hired Mike McCarthy as their new head coach, the question of whether Rodgers would return started swirling again.
Tomlin was one of the main reasons Rodgers played for the Steelers last season, but McCarthy coached Rodgers for the majority of their time in Green Bay and won a Super Bowl together. Many believed that reunion would be enough to bring Rodgers back for an additional season.
Once McCarthy got in the building, Rodgers let the Steelers know that he needed some time to make his decision, and he would let the team know before the draft. Now, the draft is nine days away, and the NFL world is still waiting on Rodgers’ decision.
Steelers running back Jaylen Warren recently said Rodgers hasn’t told anyone in Pittsburgh whether he’ll retire or not at this point, but he’s focused on the team no matter who’s at quarterback.
“You know, I’m not really expecting anything,” Warren said. “Whatever happens, happens. I’m rocking with whoever’s at the quarterback position. But if he comes back, great. If he doesn’t, then we’ll miss him.”
On Monday’s episode of the Nightcap Show with Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, the Bengals’ legend gave his thoughts on the entire Rodgers, Steelers situation.
“I know Aaron Rodgers is loving this,” Johnson said. “Any quarterback is loving this. When you can have a team by the balls. How old is he? 42. This lets people know… how important the quarterback position is because they understand how valuable Aaron Rodgers is, even though he’s not the same Aaron Rodgers of old.”
“The other options that you do have aren’t the answer,” Johnson added. “Aaron Rodgers is Aaron Rodgers, even though he’s not the same one. He still gives you your best chance to win. He just does.”
Ochocinco added that he still has full confidence Rodgers will return for another season in 2026, despite the dragged-out decision.
“That’s why he can pull the shenanigans that he does, and you know what, ‘I’ll let y’all know when I’m ready to come back,'” Johnson said. “Knowing good well, you know you’re coming back. Why even play this game?”
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According to PFSN’s QB Impact Metric, Rodgers finished last season as the 29th-ranked quarterback in the league with an impact score of 71.4. Yet, like Johnson said, the four-time MVP is the best option available for the Steelers.
Johnson challenges the Steelers at the end because this is the second dance Pittsburgh has done with the 42-year-old quarterback. However, we’re still in the same place; Rodgers holds all the power and decision-making in his hands. And everybody is waiting for that decision to be made.
