What the Steelers Need to Lure the Four-Time MVP Back to Pittsburgh
After a sub-par two seasons with the New York Jets, one of which was ended in the first game due to an Achilles' tear, four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers signed a one-year $20 million contract to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers and head coach Mike Tomlin. Rodgers' intention in signing a one-year deal is to retire after the 2025 season, leaving Pittsburgh with a major roster gap. However, Rodgers hinted at a return in January 2026. Now, nearly two months later and with no decision officially made yet, more information is emerging about Rodgers' demands to return to Pittsburgh for his 22nd season. The greatest, and potentially only demand he has made is to upgrade the shallow wide receiver room that the Steelers currently have. The only receivers the Steelers currently have under contract are DK Metcalf, Roman Wilson, and Ben Skowronek. The Steelers also have $45 million to work with in free agency and 12 draft picks. The 2026 NFL Draft class and this year's free agency market are both headlined by big-name receivers whom the Steelers can hopefully snag.
According to NBC Sports' Matthew Berry, who was in attendance for the 2026 NFL Combine, Rodgers is "leaning towards coming back, but that, while you never know with Rodgers, the current expectation is that if he comes back, it would be to return to Pittsburgh." Berry also reported that Pittsburgh has a backup plan in place in case Rodgers changes his mind and retires. He states, "If for some reason Rodgers doesn't return, Pittsburgh loves Will Howard. They would more likely start Howard for the year, rather than paying one of the Kyler Murray, Geno Smith batch of guys." Rodgers' final prevention from returning to the steel city is how they plan to address their wide receiver room. According to Steelers insider Mark Kaboly, Rodgers will not return to Pittsburgh in the 2026 season if they do not upgrade the wide receiver position, and that Rodgers is likely waiting to see what Pittsburgh does before deciding whether to run it back with the Steelers. After the Steelers' former coach, Mike Tomlin, stepped down from coaching, and Pittsburgh brought in Mike McCarthy as his replacement, many believed this would lead to a sure-fire decision for Rodgers, having played under McCarthy for 13 seasons in Green Bay, where he won two of his MVPs under a pass-first, three-receiver offense.
At this point in Rodgers' career, he has nothing left to prove. He is fifth all-time in passing yards, fourth all-time in passing touchdowns, tied with Lamar Jackson for the best passer rating, and holds the best touchdown-interception ratio. Rodgers came to Pittsburgh initially because of his love and admiration for Mike Tomlin, and he would likely return because of the same love and admiration he has for Mike McCarthy. Rodgers is likely returning to Pittsburgh, but, as Kaboly states, "if he's coming back, he wants to win." It's hard to win football games when you don't have any suitable pass-catchers, almost guaranteeing that Pittsburgh will try to make a splash in the wide receiver sweepstakes to come in just eight days. The communication with Rodgers and people at every level of the Steelers' organization is there; the question that remains is whether they are on the same level with that communication?
