The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering a new era under head coach Mike McCarthy, following Mike Tomlin’s departure after nearly two decades. But they might not be much different if they bring back Aaron Rodgers to be their quarterback for another season.
However, NFL analyst Mike Florio isn’t entirely sure Aaron Rodgers will return as the Steelers selected Drew Allar in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Mike Florio Discusses Steelers’ QB Situation With Aaron Rodgers
Florio isn’t convinced that the Steelers are confident that Rodgers will return. He said the Allar pick could be a backup plan if the four-time NFL MVP ends up retiring.
“Round 3. Penn State QB Drew Allar joins the mix,” Florio said. “This one’s awkward. Is this a hedge against the possibility that Aaron Rodgers won’t show up? Are they just being careful here? Maybe he won’t play.”
“That makes sense, if they really are concerned, and maybe that’s the takeaway,” Florio added. “They’re concerned he’s [Aaron Rodgers] not going to show up. We were supposed to have an answer by now.”
Rodgers expressed his desire in the past to play another season for Pittsburgh, but with the changes to the coaching staff, it could have changed. But McCarthy is a familiar face to Rodgers, as they spent many years together in Green Bay, even winning a Super Bowl together in 2011 against the Steelers.
The Steelers have been the definition of mediocre over the last eight to ten years. Ever since the decline of Ben Roethlisberger in the late 2010s, Pittsburgh has been searching for an answer at quarterback and hasn’t found one.
They’ve tried Kenny Pickett, Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and Mason Rudolph, but none were as good as last year’s Rodgers, who wasn’t spectacular himself. According to PFSN’s QB Impact Metric, he posted an impact score of 71.4, ranking 29th in the league at his position.
MORE: PFSN’s 2026 NFL UDFA Tracker
In the 2025 NFL Draft, the Steelers selected Will Howard out of Ohio State, and this year they selected Allar. Rodgers won’t be around forever with his age, and the AFC North team is taking swings at potential franchise guys. Allar had plenty of buzz heading into last season, but a poor season from Penn State and a season-ending injury made the hype train come to a screeching halt.
Allar has the tools to be great in the NFL. His decision-making often can bite him, but his arm talent is undeniable. If Rodgers doesn’t come back, as Florio speculates as a possibility, the competition between Allar and Howard for the starting job will be one to watch. Rudolph could be the starter because he’s still with the team, but they’ll need to decide on a younger answer sooner rather than later.
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Florio’s report makes the Pittsburgh situation an intriguing storyline to keep an eye on. With a QB room of Allar, Howard, and Rudolph, the Steelers are bracing for the chance that the future Hall of Famer doesn’t show up to play in 2026.
Rodgers would need a new contract, but that shouldn’t be much of a problem for Pittsburgh once he gives them the go-ahead to play for them in 2026.
