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Even though he didn't visit the Steelers as recently reported, Aaron Rodgers is still leaning towards playing in 2026
The Pittsburgh Steelers have some unfinished business to take care of this offseason, as they still need to figure out what’s going on with Aaron Rodgers. The future Hall of Famer has once again taken an extended period of time to decide whether he wants to return to the field for the 2026 campaign, leaving the Steelers in a tough position.
Earlier this month, reports emerged suggesting that Rodgers was visiting the team, with the hope being that he would put pen to paper on a new contract for the upcoming season. Instead, it seems Rodgers took a trip to Pittsburgh, but did not make an appearance at the Steelers’ facility. While that has led some folks to become quite concerned about his status, it still sounds like the expectation is that he will play at least one more season in the NFL.
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This isn’t the first time Rodgers has forced the Steelers to play a waiting game when it comes to making a decision on his future, as the team was in the exact same spot last offseason. Rodgers obviously decided to sign with Pittsburgh in free agency, and he ended up putting together a strong enough campaign (327/498, 3,322 YDS, 24 TD, 7 INT) that he was able to convince the team to try and bring him back for one more year.
There are a lot of concerns that naturally have arisen when it comes to the Steelers’ pursuit of Rodgers. If he decides to retire, the team is woefully thin at quarterback, as Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and rookie Drew Allar are the only options available for the time being. Beyond that, even if Rodgers does return for one more year, that doesn’t change the fact that Pittsburgh is going to need a long-term answer at quarterback very soon.
Rodgers’ confusing Pittsburgh visit has left fans a little bit worried, and that’s certainly reasonable. If he is in town, why hasn’t he popped out to the team’s facility yet? NFL insider Ian Rapoport knows why the panic meters are rising right now, but he assured folks that the overarching assumption is still that Rodgers will be the Steelers’ starting quarterback come Week 1.
“My sense, talking to the people I’ve spoken with, is that he does (want to return for the 2026 campaign),” Rapoport said on “Between the Tackles.” “I would consider it likely that he is the starting quarterback for the Steelers this season. He has been in Pittsburgh over the last, let’s say, week or so … Has not been to the facility, but has been in Pittsburgh.”
GettyIt turns out Aaron Rodgers did not visit the Steelers as previously reported
Rodgers has put the Steelers in a tough spot, as they have been unable to truly map out the 2026 campaign without a solid answer from their presumed starting quarterback. If Rodgers calls it a career, that sets the stage for a quarterback battle between Rudolph and Howard, which isn’t exactly an encouraging prospect.
Pittsburgh has put all of its eggs in Rodgers’ basket, which is understandably risky. And while all the signs continue to point to him playing next season, Rodgers is such a wild card that nothing will feel set in stone until he puts pen to paper. Ideally, the Steelers will receive some sort of firm answer in the near future, but that’s the sort of wishful thinking the team has been hanging onto all offseason long, and look where that’s got them.
Owen Crisafulli Owen Crisafulli is an Email Newsletter Editor & Breaking News Writer at Heavy Sports. His work has also appeared on ClutchPoints, Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, NESN Basketball Network, and FanSided, where he shared his insights on a variety of sports topics primarily surrounding the NFL, NBA, and MLB. More about Owen Crisafulli
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