The NFL's new league year is fast approaching, and the Pittsburgh Steelers will have plenty of work to do if they want the hiring of Mike McCarthy as their new head coach to work out. The top priority, as it is for any team without a stable option in place, is finding a starting quarterback.
The expectation is that Aaron Rodgers will return to reunite with the coach that he spent 13 years with back in Green Bay, despite a rocky season for the 42-year-old in 2025. However, unlike last year's saga that lasted into June, the Steelers appear prepared to go in a different direction if needed.
McCarthy joined ESPN Madison's Wilde and Tausch on Friday, and he pulled back the curtain just a bit by acknowledging the need for a plan B. When asked about the plan with Rodgers moving forward, the Steelers HC had this to say.
"It always points back to healthy communication, and there has definitely been that. We'll see what the future holds, but we're preparing for both scenarios."
The Pittsburgh Steelers are already showing better judgement in their second pursuit of Aaron Rodgers
That comment about preparing for both scenarios sounds like common sense (and frankly, it is), but it's a clear departure from their pursuit of Rodgers a season ago. Even though it seemed inevitable, the Steelers allowed Rodgers to spend months deciding if he would be their QB in 2025, passing up opportunities in the draft and potentially the trade market to do so.
With only career backup Mason Rudolph, free agent pickup Skylar Thompson, and sixth-round pick Will Howard on the roster, Pittsburgh desperately needed the former MVP to join them if they wanted to compete. Rodgers knew that, and it gave him far too much control over the situation for a player who had long since regressed from his days as an All-Pro.
This year, it seems that the Steelers are more comfortable with their backup plan if Rodgers doesn't return. Whether that means a different free agent pickup, a trade, or even allowing Howard to take the reins and see what he has to offer, having a real plan in place should put fans at ease compared to 2025.
It's also entirely possible that McCarthy's comments were his way of trying to take the pressure off of himself and the front office, as I can't imagine he hasn't heard the serious reservations fans have about another year with QB uncertainty. Whether you are in favor of Rodgers returning or not, hearing that they are preparing for either outcome doesn't hurt. Does that mean that the plan is a good one? That's a conversation for a different time.