Veteran NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ future remains uncertain after his 2025 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers ended with an AFC wild-card round earlier this month.
According to Steelers insider Andrew Fillipponi, Steelers general manager Omar Khan has given Rodgers a month to decide whether he wants to return to Pittsburgh for the 2026 season. Fillipponi wrote on X:
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“Report: Our Steelers insider Jeff Hathorn says Omar Khan let Aaron Rodgers know that they need a decision in a month”. So before free agency.”
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NFL fans reacted to the Steelers setting a deadline for Rodgers to decide his future.
“So its up to Rodgers then. Depressing level of poor judgement by the front office.”
“They shouldn’t even be inviting him back. It just sets the franchise back another year.”
“This is the right move to force a decision sooner. Sets up signing another free agent.”
“The fact they still want him is alarming enough I got a feeling they are going to sign Kirk cousins if Rodgers falls through.”
“Well it’s time to move on from old QB’s, time for Rodgers to retire. Look, the NFL is a young man’s game, to include the HC, you need young blood to build around, the Steelers have it in Will Howard, time to move on!”
Rodgers, in his 21st NFL season, finished with 3,322 passing yards and 24 touchdowns with seven interceptions.
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Steelers coach Mike McCarthy reflects on Aaron Rodgers’ decision
The Steelers will have Mason Rudolph and Will Howard as the other quarterback options if Aaron Rodgers moves on in free agency. Meanwhile, the Steelers have hired former Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy to replace Mike Tomlin.
McCarthy, who won the Super Bowl with Rodgers at Green Bay, revealed talking to his former quarterback amid retirement rumors on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
“Yes, I’ve spoken to Aaron a number of times,” McCarthy said. “I think just like anybody that’s played the game, particularly at this point in their career, it’s important to get away. That’s a normal process that all of these players do, to decompress and step away from the season.
“That’s the mindset he’s in, and that’s as far as our conversations have gone as far as if he’s coming back or not coming back. It’s important for him to do the things he normally does; stepping away and making those decisions.”
It’ll be interesting to see if Rodgers decides to commit one more season with the Steelers after the arrival of his former Packers coach in Pittsburgh.
Edited by Chaitanya Prakash
