The Pittsburgh Steelers and Aaron Rodgers have finally agreed on a one-year deal to run it back in 2026, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. The four-time MVP not only gets a second chance to end his Hall of Fame career on a high note, but he gets to do it with the head coach he won a Super Bowl with against the Steelers back in 2010.
Mike McCarthy made it clear when he was hired by the Steelers following Mike Tomlin's resignation that he would love to get to coach Rodgers again, and he will get his wish. After 13 years together (11 of which Rodgers started) with the Green Bay Packers from 2006 to 2018, the two are reuniting to try and take the Steelers farther than they have been in nearly a decade.
Now that there is no more speculation about his future, the focus turns to making sure the 2026 season ends differently from 2025.
Aaron Rodgers' return amps up the pressure for the Pittsburgh Steelers to contend in 2026
Considering Rodgers wasn't exactly quick to make a decision about his playing future in either of the past two offseasons, it's hard to believe he will play beyond this upcoming season. He will turn 43 years old near the end of the regular season, and he already looked like a QB nearing the end in 2025.
That means Mike McCarthy and general manager Omar Khan can't afford to leave anything off the table while building the roster the rest of the offseason. They have already added key pieces during the 2026 NFL Draft, but will that be enough? I don't think so. Whether that means calling teams about potential trades or last-minute free agent moves, nothing should be out of the question.
While many fans (myself included) want to see the Steelers focus on the future for once, the decision to bring Rodgers back only makes sense if they are truly going for broke. The move to go with McCarthy as Tomlin's replacement in the first place shows that they always planned to compete again in 2026.
Can they do it? Their track record over the last decade, and their performance with Rodgers under center last season, says no. The one variable that nobody can truly account for yet is the difference between McCarthy and Tomlin as the man leading the charge. McCarthy's career is shockingly similar to Tomlin's, but can his prowess as an offensive mind be what gets the Steelers over the hump? Only time will tell.
Add us as a preferred source on Google