Do Steelers already know what Aaron Rodgers will do for 2026 season?

The Pittsburgh Steelers agreed to accumulate broad receiver Michael Pittman Jr. from the Indianapolis Colts and likewise got here to phrases on a two-year, $12.25M take care of working again Rico Dowdle.

It appears some consider these strikes have been made with 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers in thoughts. 

The place are Aaron Rodgers, Steelers in offseason conversations?

On Sunday, Steelers reporter Brooke Pryor of ESPN addressed how Pittsburgh’s offseason exercise could point out that lately employed head coach Mike McCarthy is assured Rodgers shall be his beginning quarterback this coming September. 

“Although Rodgers hasn’t given the Steelers a concrete reply on his future, the 2 sides proceed to interact in optimistic conversations, and Rodgers is conscious of the continuing roster development,” Pryor wrote. “And if he does not return, the Steelers’ strikes would additionally work effectively for second-year quarterback Will Howard, who gained a nationwide championship at Ohio State with the assistance of a dominant protection and bodily run recreation.”

Conflicting experiences have emerged in regards to the Steelers’ alleged ideas on Howard, a 2025 sixth-round draft decide who took zero in-game snaps as a rookie. A rumor surfaced linking Pittsburgh with Alabama Crimson Tide signal-caller Ty Simpson. A part of that report stated that the Steelers’ plan could also be for Rodgers to play for yet one more yr earlier than Simpson takes over as Pittsburgh’s QB1. 

Final offseason, Rodgers did not formally ink a one-year contract to affix the Steelers till June. Nonetheless, former Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin later revealed that he “knew one thing” about Rodgers’ intentions for the 2025 season earlier than the draft. 

It now appears as if the Steelers are placing collectively an offense that might serve a veteran quarterback who is not fairly as cellular as he was in his bodily prime. 

Steelers should not rebuilding amid Aaron Rodgers uncertainty

“It is not a complete rebuild,” Pryor added in regards to the Steelers. “As an alternative, McCarthy and common supervisor Omar Khan look like prioritizing complementary gamers to reinforce the Steelers’ identification as a bodily, run-first offense.”

Taking some duties for the offense’s manufacturing off Rodgers’ plate might assist preserve him as totally match as attainable by means of the second half of a grueling marketing campaign. Whereas historical past exhibits nothing with Rodgers is a positive factor till he places pen to paper on an settlement, it continues to really feel like a matter of when and never if he shall be again on Pittsburgh’s energetic roster.