The Pittsburgh Steelers are re-signing Aaron Rodgers to a one-year deal, according to multiple reports. It’s a move that will solidify the starting quarterback spot for a team that had been lacking one all offseason. Now the room is no longer incomplete for Mike McCarthy’s new team.
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It’ll be a similar look for the Steelers in 2026, who have a pair of familiar faces to play behind the four-time NFL MVP.
Rodgers’ decision to return for a 22nd NFL season ensures that the Steelers won’t have to move forward with Mason Rudolph or some unproven option as the starting quarterback. More importantly, Pittsburgh projected a message all offseason that they were all-in on Rodgers, considering the Steelers let him dictate everything.
As free agents came off the board, it limited options for the team in a year that didn’t have many to begin with. On the bright side for the 2026 Steelers, Plan B is now something that only exists in an alternate timeline.
Here’s a look at the updated depth chart in Pittsburgh.
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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.
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See Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he nears retirement
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.
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California Golden Bears quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks to throw against USC at the Los Angeles Coliseum on Oct. 9, 2004.
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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.
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Aaron Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers’ first round pick in the 2005 NFL draft, is introduced by GM Ted Thompson on April 24, 2005.
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Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers drops back to pass against the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium on Nov. 29, 2007.
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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.
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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.
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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 XLV.
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Aaron Rodgers celebrates the Super Bowl XLV title with Green Bay Packer fans during a Return to Titletown Celebration on Feb. 8, 2011 at Lambeau Field.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Aaron Rodgers is shown with back up quarterbacks Tim Boyle (left) and Jordan Love during the team’s training camp in Green Bay, Wis., on Aug. 24, 2020.
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Aaron Rodgers served as guest host of “Jeopardy!” for two weeks from April 6-15, 2021.
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Aaron Rodgers celebrates his rushing touchdown during a 24-14 win against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Oct. 17, 2021.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Steelers QB depth chart
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Rodgers is the obvious headliner atop the Steelers’ depth chart since he almost certainly wouldn’t return to be a backup.
As things currently stand, Rudolph projects as the backup. He is a veteran with starting experience that has proven to be serviceable in the past.
He will slide in ahead of Howard, who was a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Allar rounds out the room after the Steelers invested a third-round pick in former Penn State quarterback during the 2026 NFL Draft. He might end up as the biggest winner from the Steelers re-signing Rodgers. Allar has all the tools to become a quality quarterback, even if his development slowed in college.
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Perhaps the ability to learn behind Rodgers could unlock the prospect that was once projected to be a high draft pick. It would be similar to the strategy previously employed by the Green Bay Packers, but with less time to grow as a player.
At the very least, the depth chart is in a much better place than it was earlier in the offseason.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aaron Rodgers re-signs: Updated Steelers quarterback depth chart
