The Pittsburgh Steelers will face the Green Bay Packers in their preseason opener Aug. 13 at Acrisure Stadium.
The game will mark Mike McCarthy’s debut as the coach of his hometown team. Key lineup decisions remain up in the air, though. At least externally.
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All eyes will be on how the quarterback mix shakes out between Aaron Rodgers and his backups. The latter group includes veteran Mason Rudolph; second-year player Will Howard, who lost his preseason to injury in 2025; and rookie Drew Allar, on who GM Omar Khan used a third-round draft pick back in April.
Required Reading: Aaron Rodgers has more to say on Fauci, ESPN, family and football | Exclusive
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers played football at Pleasant Valley High School in Chico, California from 1998 to 2001. During his junior and senior seasons as starting quarterback, Rodgers amassed 4,419 passing yards while helping the Vikings to a 17-7 mark.
(Aaron Rodgers)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers played football at Pleasant Valley High School in Chico, California from 1998 to 2001. During his junior and senior seasons as starting quarterback, Rodgers amassed 4,419 passing yards while helping the Vikings to a 17-7 mark.
(Aaron Rodgers)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
California Golden Bears quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks to throw against USC at the Los Angeles Coliseum on Oct. 9, 2004.
(Peter Brouillet, USA TODAY Sports)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, drafted 24th overall by the Green Bay Packers, poses with family and friends during the 2005 NFL Draft at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City on April 23, 2005.
(Chris Trotman, Getty Images)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers’ first round pick in the 2005 NFL draft, is introduced by GM Ted Thompson on April 24, 2005.
(USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis. via Imagn Content Services, LLC)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers drops back to pass against the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium on Nov. 29, 2007.
(Mark J. Rebilas, US PRESSWIRE)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers reacts after he threw a 7-yard touchdown to John Kuhn in the third quarter of the 2010 NFC divisional playoff game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Jan. 15, 2011. Rodgers threw for three touchdowns and ran for a third in the Packers’ 48-21 win.
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers pumps his fist in the air celebrating the 2010 NFC championship game victory over the Chicago Bears on Jan. 23, 2011 at Soldier Field.
(PC Photo, The Post-Crescent)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell presents the Super Bowl MVP trophy to Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers at a news conference on Feb. 7, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. The Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 to win Super Bowl 45.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers celebrates the Super Bowl 45 title with Green Bay Packer fans during a Return to Titletown Celebration on Feb. 8, 2011 at Lambeau Field.
(Rick Wood/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
President Barack Obama receives a jersey from quarterback Aaron Rodgers (L) of the Green Bay Packers during a reception for the National Football League Super Bowl XLV champions on the south lawn of the White House on Aug. 12, 2011 in Washington, D.C. The Packers, lead by head coach Mike McCarthy, finished the 2010 season with a winning record of 10-6, and defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 to win the championship.
(Mark Wilson, Getty Images)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers leaves the field following the Green Bay Packers’ 21-13 win against the Houston Texans at Lambeau Field on Dec. 4, 2016.
(Stacy Revere, Getty Images)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers looks for an open receiver during the Green Bay Packers’ game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Oct. 8, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. The Packers won the game, 35-31.
(Tom Pennington, Getty Images)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers plays during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament at Spyglass Hill Golf Course on Feb. 8, 2018.
(Joe Camporeale, USA TODAY Sports)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Danica Patrick and Aaron Rodgers look on during the fourth quarter of Game 2 of the first round of the 2019 NBA playoffs between the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on April 17, 2019. Rodgers has an ownership stake in the NBA team.
(Jeff Hanisch, USA TODAY Sports)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers is shown with back up quarterbacks Tim Boyle (left) and Jordan Love during the team’s training camp in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Aug. 24, 2020.
(Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers served as guest host of “Jeopardy!” for two weeks from April 6-15, 2021.
(Carol Kaelson/Jeopardy Productions)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers celebrates his rushing touchdown during a 24-14 win against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Oct. 17, 2021.
(Mike De Sisti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and quarterback Aaron Rodgers stand arm in arm late in the fourth quarter of a 24-10 win against the Washington Football Team on Oct. 24, 2021, at Lambeau Field
(Dan Powers / USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is lifted up by guard Lucas Patrick after breaking Brett Favre’s franchise record for touchdown passes during a Christmas Day 2021 game against the Cleveland Browns.
(Benny Sieu, USA TODAY Sports)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers walks off the field with teammate Randall Cobb following a season-ending loss to the Detroit Lions on Jan, 8, 2023 at Lambeau Field.
(Jeff Hanisch, USA TODAY Sports)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers was traded to the New York Jets prior to the 2023 season after spending the first 18 years of his NFL career with the Green Bay Packers.
(Ed Mulholland, USA TODAY Sports)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is injured after a sack by Buffalo Bills defensive end Leonard Floyd during his first drive with the Jets on Sept. 11, 2023.
(Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers looks on from the sideline during the New York Jets’ 30-0 loss against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on Dec. 17, 2023.
(Sam Navarro, USA TODAY Sports)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) signs a fan’s helmet before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, on Dec. 15, 2024.
(Morgan Tencza, Imagn Images)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) and wide receiver Davante Adams (17) high-five each other as they walks off the field after a 32-25 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, on Dec. 15, 2024.
(Corey Perrine, Florida Times-Union)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) throws his 500th career touchdown pass in the second quarter of the game against the Miami Dolphins on Jan. 5, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J.
(Kevin R. Wexler, NorthJersey.com via USA TODAY Network)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) celebrates his touchdown pass to New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams (17) (not pictured) during the fourth quarter of their game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Jan. 5, 2025.
(Ed Mulholland, Imagn Images)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
The ball used by New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers for his 500th touchdown pass is seen on the sideline during the second quarter of the Jets game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Jan. 5, 2025.
(Ed Mulholland, Imagn Images)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) walks off the field with wide receiver Davante Adams (17) after a win against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Jan. 5, 2025.
(Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images)
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers fumbles as he is hit by the Houston Texans’ Will Anderson Jr. The Texans’ Sheldon Rankins (90) returned the fumble for a touchdown as Houston went on to a 30-6 wild-card playoff win at Acrisure Stadium on Jan. 12, 2026.
(Joe Sargent, Getty Images)
Is Aaron Rodgers playing vs. Packers?
McCarthy said Tuesday that Rodgers “prefers to play,” but later in the day, Rodgers told reporters that the preseason is not “real football,” casting doubt on the notion that he has anything to gain by appearing.
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“It’s preseason, it’s not real football,” Rodgers said. “If I do, great. If not, great.”
Rodgers did not play in any preseason games last year as he adjusted to a new system under then-coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. He’d figure to need even less work as he transitions back to working with his former coach from his Green Bay days.
Rodgers topped the team’s initial training camp depth chart last week. He was followed by Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Drew Allar, in that order.
All three of the backups are expected to see at least some reps. Howard and Allar appear set to make debuts long awaited by fans curious to see if there’s a future franchise QB already on the roster.
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Steelers preseason schedule
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Aaron Rodgers playing vs Packers? Steelers QB’s status for preseason opener
