The now-annual will he, won’t he Aaron Rodgers offseason drama could reach its conclusion much earlier than usual. The veteran quarterback is expected to meet with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday, and is likely to play for the franchise once again in 2026, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
That doesn’t necessarily mean a deal will get finished over the weekend. While Rodgers will visit the team over the weekend, no contract is finalized just yet, per Rapoport.
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Still, Rodgers reportedly plans to play for the Steelers in 2026 and this is one of the necessary steps toward making that a reality.
That seems to be the way things have been trending all offseason. While Rodgers, 42, has flirted with retirement in the past, those rumors didn’t seem as loud this offseason.
Despite needing a quarterback, the Steelers remained patient on that front. The team did not make a free-agent splash at the position and waited until the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft to select Drew Allar. While a third-round pick isn’t nothing, it doesn’t guarantee Allar as the future of the franchise.
Those moves left the door wide open for Rodgers to return as the team’s starter in 2026. But in case there was any doubt about that reunion, the Steelers took a major step in securing Rodgers’ services again in late April, when the team placed the transition tag on the veteran passer. Under that tag, the Steelers would have the ability to match any deal given to Rodgers by another franchise. The move didn’t guarantee Rodgers would return, but it did give a pretty clear indication that the Steelers want him back.
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Rodgers’ first season in Pittsburgh proved fruitful, as the quarterback threw for 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions while leading the team to a 10-6 record in his 16 starts.
Following a clutch Week 18 win over the Baltimore Ravens, the Steelers secured a postseason spot, marking Rodgers’ first season with the franchise as a success. But that joy didn’t last long, as the Steelers were trounced 30-6 in the first round of the playoffs.
Following that loss, long-time Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin decided to step down, leading to more questions about whether Rodgers would return to the team in 2026. Tomlin reportedly played a major role in Rodgers joining the Steelers in 2025, and it was unclear whether the coach’s departure would result in Rodgers walking away from the Steelers as well.
With questions swirling about Rodgers’ future, the team hired someone with which Rodgers has plenty of familiarity. Former Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy was brought in as Tomlin’s replacement.
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McCarthy and Rodgers have a history as a successful pair in the NFL. The duo worked together for 13 seasons in Green Bay. During that period, the Packers made the playoffs nine times, Rodgers won two MVP awards and the Packers defeated the Steelers to win Super Bowl XLV.
While there were reports of unrest between McCarthy and Rodgers toward the end of the coach’s time in Green Bay, those may have been overblown considering Rodgers’ alleged interest in returning to the Steelers in 2026.
Despite his age, Rodgers remains an effective quarterback. While he’s no longer producing at an MVP level, he proved last season he can still post solid ratios and lead a team to a winning record.
The Steelers will hope Rodgers can turn in a repeat performance in 2026. While another first-round playoff exit won’t excite fans, a winning season in McCarthy’s first year would go a long way, and would give the team a bit more breathing room to find its quarterback of the future.
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