Aaron Rodgers Return Timeline Updated by Adam Schefter amid Steelers Rumors Ahead of NFL Draft

One week away from the 2026 NFL draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers are still waiting word from Aaron Rodgers about his plans for the upcoming season.

On the latest episode of The Adam Schefter Podcast, ESPN's Adam Schefter explained the Steelers originally hoped to receive word from Rodgers about returning within 30 days of the 2025 season ending and then around the start of free agency.

Now, Schefter said Steelers owner Art Rooney II is "hoping" to get confirmation from Rodgers about his status prior to the draft.

Everything the Steelers have done this offseason would indicate they are expecting Rodgers to be their starting quarterback next season.

Head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters during his introductory press conference that he has "definitely" talked Rodgers and would welcome a reunion after they worked together for 13 seasons with the Green Bay Packers from 2006 to '18.

McCarthy has been careful to say that he hasn't received any assurances from Rodgers that he intends to play this season.

"It would be a great story. I don't know," McCarthy said on March 23. "And I would love to tell everybody some breaking news. But it's really cool to see Aaron at 42. To see a young man at 22, and all that he's been able to accomplish, and where he's at in his personal life and trying to make this decision. So he's in a really good place, I think he's in a really good place."

Schefter noted that Kirk Cousins was a quarterback the Steelers would have had interest in if they don't have Rodgers, but Cousins has since signed with the Las Vegas Raiders after being released by the Atlanta Falcons.

As things currently stand, Mason Rudolph and Will Howard are the only quarterbacks on Pittsburgh's depth chart.

There has been some discussion about the Steelers' potentially pursuing Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson in the draft, but it's unclear if that would be contingent on whether or not Rodgers is on the roster.

It's worth noting that Rodgers didn't sign with the Steelers last offseason until June 7. When he was traded from the Green Bay Packers to the New York Jets in 2023, that deal didn't go down until three days before the draft.

Rodgers tends to operate on his own timeline, so any clarity on his future will come when he wants it to and no one else will force him to make a decision.

The four-time NFL MVP led the Steelers to the playoffs last season. He threw for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns in 16 starts. He was the first Pittsburgh quarterback to throw for at least 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in a season since Ben Roethlisberger in 2021.