Aaron Rodgers Verdict Imminent as Steelers Anticipate Another Season

The Steelers still have no formal word from aging quarterback Aaron Rodgers about his plans for 2026, but there remains a sense within the organization that he will play next season, with formal word anticipated in the coming weeks.

There is no rush to get final word from him, given his long tenure playing under new head coach Mike McCarthy from their time together in Green Bay, which included a Super Bowl win. 

While Rodgers and McCarthy didn’t leave on the best of terms, they’ve also mended fences, according to sources, and if Rodgers truly intended to retire it’s unlikely he would string out McCarthy having just taken over a new franchise after a brief stint in Dallas.

Given how mercurial Rodgers can be, the Steelers continue to tread lightly about the topic, and they don’t want to be seen as speaking for him in any way. 

But it’s clear to Rodgers’s representatives that this situation cannot drag all the way to mini camp like it did a year ago before he formally signed with them.

Quarterback Of The Future?

While there is still a strong sense that Rodgers will be under center for them this season, the Steelers did draft a developmental quarterback in the third round, Drew Allar from Penn State. 

Allar had a spotty college career, with high highs and low lows, but the Steelers were drawn to him for his strapping size and ability to make big-time throws that not every prospect in this draft could make.

If for whatever reason Rodgers were to opt to retire, the Steelers would likely turn to youngster Will Howard, a 2025 pick, as their first option on their current roster, though there would be opportunities to sign a free agent or make a trade for a veteran.

Allar requires development and reps to be ready, something far more for 2027 than 2026. But the Steelers are convinced he has starting NFL upside if they can fully tap into it.