Aaron Rodgers asked about his future after wild-card loss to Texans
Aaron Rodgers spoke to the media about how he plans to approach his future after the Steelers’ playoff loss to the Texans.
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Aaron Rodgers has once again taken time to ponder the next step in his career, but this time he won’t wait until the summer.
According to multiple reports, Rodgers has agreed to sign a one-year contract worth up to $25 million to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers, opting to pursue the 22nd season of his storied career. He was expected to visit the team in early May, but there were conflicting reports as to whether he actually visited, and was expected to sign soon after.
The move had clear consequences for both the 42-year-old quarterback and coach Mike McCarthy, who previously coached Rodgers for 13 seasons in Green Bay.
After signing a one-year contract with the Steelers last June, Rodgers said on “The Pat McAfee Show” that he was “confident” he would not play beyond his contract. But after McCarthy was hired to replace Mike Tomlin, who resigned after 19 years, the coach made it clear he would welcome a reunion with the four-time NFL MVP.
Asked at his inaugural press conference if he wanted Rodgers back on the team, McCarthy said: “Absolutely. I don’t see why not.” “I talked to Aaron, and that’s as far as we are right now, but I was able to sit down and watch the game, and I was able to watch most of the Pittsburgh games on TV, and I thought he was a great addition to the team.”
Still, Rodgers bided his time, admitting he would reconsider his options, including retirement. Team owner and president Art Rooney II said at the league meeting in March that he expected a quarterback to be drafted, but the event passed without any action.
However, the Steelers were adamant about his return.
“We’ve had great communication with Aaron and nothing has changed, but everything has been positive and good,” Steelers general manager Omar Khan said in April. “And I said this to you guys when we met in March: He knows how we feel about him, and we know how he feels about us.”
The Steelers placed Rodgers on a rare unrestricted free agent tender in May, but Looney later explained that it was only a procedural move, opening up the possibility of a compensatory pick if the quarterback signs elsewhere.
How Aaron Rodgers’ return will impact the Steelers’ season outlook
The Steelers will begin organized team activities on May 18 with a level of certainty that didn’t exist at this time last year, when Rodgers waited until just before mandatory minicamp to join the organization.
McCarthy said he is not concerned about Rodgers’ delayed return potentially impacting the offensive line’s offseason preparations.
“I think Aaron is probably adjusting more than we realize, but if that’s his decision, we’re confident about where he’ll be on the day he arrives,” McCarthy said in April.
Rodgers led the Steelers to the AFC North title last season with 3,322 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. But while he ranked just 21st among eligible passers in expected extra points per dropback, short, quick throws made up the overwhelming majority of his work.
This approach helped keep pass rushers at bay during the regular season, but things took a turn for the worse in a 30-6 wild-card loss to the Houston Texans. Rodgers had four sacks, including a lost fumble that was returned for a score, and threw a pick-six on his final pass attempt.
The Steelers selected Penn State quarterback Drew Aller in the third round of this year’s draft, but McCarthy said that selection had nothing to do with Rodgers.
“We want to expand our quarterback room,” McCarthy said, noting that 2025 fifth-round pick Will Howard and veteran backup Mason Rudolph are also available. “We don’t want to rely on just one quarterback.”
Rogers is 42 years old. The quarterback was born in Chico, California on December 2, 1983, which means he will be 43 years old before the end of the 2026 NFL season.
Rodgers is the oldest active quarterback in the NFL, but not the oldest in league history. That title belongs to George Blanda, who was 48 when he last attempted an NFL pass, and Tom Brady, 45, is the oldest quarterback to start an NFL game.
Rodgers played for three different teams during his NFL career: the Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, and Steelers. Below is a list of the time he spent with each team.
- Green Bay Packers (2005-22)
- New York Jets (2023-24)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (2025-present)
Yes, Rodgers helped lead the Green Bay Packers to a victory over the Steelers in Super Bowl 45 in the 2010 NFL Playoffs. This is Rodgers’ only Super Bowl win and appearance to date.
USA TODAY Sports’ Jacob Kamenkar also contributed to this report.
