New Aaron Rodgers Rumors Update Cardinals, Steelers Buzz Amid 2026 NFL Free Agency

Aaron Rodgers to the Arizona Cardinals? Is it possible the veteran quarterback could shun the Pittsburgh Steelers in favor of a stint in the desert?

Nah.

"No legs for that one," the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show while discussing the Rodgers-to-Arizona buzz. "I certainly don't expect that. Sorry to disappoint everyone. I don't expect him to sign in Arizona. I expect, if he is going to play, to play for Pittsburgh. You're starting to get to that point where you'd really like an answer. But we're in the same situation we've been, which is like, it's Rodgers, so you don't want to be like, 'Hey, we need an answer.' Because he might go, 'No you don't.' And then they don't. They don't. They would like one. I would like one. Everybody would like one. But you sort of don't. So when he decides to play football, if he decides to play football, I expect it to be for the Steelers."

Rapoport isn't alone in that reporting:

Talk about a potential Rodgers-Cardinals partnership picked up in recent days, especially with the Steelers using the unrestricted free agency tender on him. The Cardinals employ Nathaniel Hackett as offensive coordinator, who held the same role for both the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets while Rodgers was with those teams.

And while the Cardinals have both Jacoby Brissett and Carson Beck on the roster, Rodgers would be an obvious upgrade.

But why would Rodgers, at 42 years old, join a non-contender in possibly his final NFL season? You can argue over whether the Steelers have legitimate Super Bowl aspirations as currently constructed, but they are much further along than the rebuilding Cardinals.

Rodgers also has familiarity in Pittsburgh after spending last season with the team, he has a long history with new head coach Mike McCarthy after the two spent years together in Green Bay, and offseason additions like receivers Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard—alongside rookie tackle Max Iheanachor—should help bolster the offense around him.

We're now into May and nobody knows if Rodgers will continue playing football. What we do know, however, is that if he does continue to play, it doesn't make much sense for him to choose the Cardinals over the Steelers.