New Aaron Rodgers Rumors and How Mike McCarthy, Steelers View QB amid Retirement Buzz

Both the Pittsburgh Steelers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers reportedly remain open to renewing their partnership this offseason.

During an appearance Saturday on SportsCenter, ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler discussed the situation and how the arrival of Mike McCarthy as the Steelers' new head coach impacts Rodgers' status.

"Both sides are open to a potential return," Fowler said. "Aaron Rodgers tends to take his time on such matters, so I don't expect a swift resolution, but head coach Mike McCarthy likes Aaron Rodgers of course from his time in Green Bay. He is a bridge option for them. They've looked hard at quarterbacks in the 2026 draft, so they certainly could draft one. They like Will Howard, their backup, former late-round pick. But look, Rodgers was rejuvenated last year coming out of Pittsburgh. He loved his teammates, loved being there. So, certainly there's an option for them to come together once again."

Rodgers, 42, spent the 2025 season in Pittsburgh after 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers and two seasons with the New York Jets.

In 16 starts, Rodgers went 10-6 and completed 65.7 percent of his passes for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Pittsburgh went 10-7 overall, which was good enough to win the AFC North and reach the playoffs.

However, the Steelers were overmatched in their AFC Wild Card Round playoff game against the Houston Texans, losing 30-6 at home.

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Longtime head coach Mike Tomlin decided to step down after the loss, ending his tenure after 19 seasons, 13 trips to the playoffs, two Super Bowl appearances and one Super Bowl win.

In his place, the Steelers hired McCarthy, who was head coach of the Packers for 13 seasons and head coach of the Dallas Cowboys for five.

McCarthy coached Rodgers from 2006 to 2018 in Green Bay, and they enjoyed enormous success together, including winning the Super Bowl at the conclusion of the 2010 campaign.

While hiring a coach who is familiar with Rodgers seemingly increases the chances of a Rodgers return, nothing is certain yet.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported last month that Rodgers "did not commit to retiring or returning to the Steelers during his conversations with the organization, according to sources, and wants to take time away before deciding his future."

More recently, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported that the "odds are increasing" when it comes to Rodgers returning to Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, ESPN's Brooke Pryor reported that the four-time NFL MVP and one-time Super Bowl MVP is "more likely to come back than not."

While Rodgers is not a long-term option at this point in his career, he could help keep the Steelers competitive next season while they continue their search for a franchise quarterback.