We are just weeks away from the 2026 NFL Draft, and the Pittsburgh Steelers still don't have an answer from quarterback Aaron Rodgers on whether he plans to return. Now, owner and team president Art Rooney II may have just given the 42-year-old a hard deadline.
During the annual NFL league meetings in Phoenix, Arizona, ESPN's Brooke Pryor caught up with Rooney, where the Steelers' president made it clear that he expects an answer from Rodgers by the draft.
"I have not talked to him. Coach [Mike McCarthy] has been in contact with him pretty regularly, and I think a decision is probably coming soon... I would say by the draft, I expect an answer."
This is pretty cut and dry. In Phoenix, Mike McCarthy also spoke to the media, expressing his faith in second-year quarterback Will Howard—believing the young QB could be a potential franchise option.
Between Rooney and McCarthy, it's clear the Steelers are losing patience with Rodgers, and if Rooney holds true to his timeline, Rodgers has just three weeks to decide before the team turns the page and moves on.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could end the Aaron Rodgers drama by the NFL Draft
We've seen this song and dance before... and it's starting to get really old. Last year, Steelers fans were forced to wait until June for Aaron Rodgers to agree to contract terms with the team (though we assumed he would be joining the roster all along).
This year, it feels less like a sure thing that Rodgers will be the Steelers' quarterback in 2026. And if he doesn't make that decision in the next three weeks, Pittsburgh could be preparing to move forward with Will Howard and perhaps a rookie in the 2026 draft.
At least that's what we hope at this point.
Rodgers is entering his age-43 season, and he's not good enough at this stage of his career to hold the Steelers hostage like this. The veteran had a despicable showing in the Wild Card loss to the Houston Texans in January, and he hasn't led an NFL team to a playoff win since 2021, following the 2020 season.
General manager Omar Khan was insistent at the 2026 NFL Combine that a decision from Rodgers would not linger as long this offseason. Yet, here we are—just weeks away from the NFL Draft with no glimpse of an answer.
Rooney needs to hold true to his word, for the sake of the fanbase and the future of the organization. If Rodgers doesn't commit to the team by the NFL Draft, Pittsburgh's decision-makers need to publicly declare that they intend to move forward with Howard for the 2026 season (or at least move on from Rodgers).