Last season, Aaron Rodgers took five months to finally put pen to paper and call himself a Steeler. Even as he packed his bags for the training camp at Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and the then-head coach Mike Tomlin intentionally bunked him next to wide receiver DK Metcalf to improve their bond, he first played video games with everyone but him. The Steelers have improved this season, but haven’t yet learned how the veteran operates.

The 42-year-old still has everyone wondering about his next move. Although he now has Mike McCarthy calling the shots and an improved WR room with Michael Pittman Jr. from Indy, Rodgers is taking it slow. So, while Pittman doesn’t know much about the Pittsburgh Steelers, he knows one thing about the man who is supposed to throw him the ball.

“You guys gotta understand, Aaron’s gonna do what he wants. I don’t think I can convince him any other way because obviously, Aaron’s done more than I think just about any other NFL player in the league,” Pittman said on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football. “Just give him his space, and if he’s ready to come back, he’ll be back, and if he’s not, then we’ll roll with what we got.”

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In January, we reported 93.7 The Fan’s Andrew Fillipponi’s knowledge that general manager Omar Khan already put Rodgers on notice, asking him to answer in a month. That was supposed to happen before the free agency. The Steelers’ plan was obvious. With Tomlin gone and McCarthy in, they needed to create new strategies and build a roster accordingly. But Rodgers had other plans.

But is it really surprising that he played spoilsport for them? Not really. If anything, it only proves his consistency in doing things on his own terms.

Back in 2024, with the New York Jets, Rodgers skipped mandatory minicamp and took a trip to Egypt instead. A year later, he kept Pittsburgh waiting before eventually signing in June, a move that already carried the sense of a short-term arrangement. Now, the situation feels familiar.

While signing with the Steelers, Rodgers revealed he had married over the offseason. Since then, he has repeatedly emphasized his focus on personal priorities. McCarthy appears to be giving him that space while also maintaining his optimism.

“I don’t see why you wouldn’t,” he said in January. “I have spoken to Aaron, and so that’s really where we are there, but I was able to sit back and watch the games and watch most of the Pittsburgh games on TV, and I thought he was a great asset for the team.”

With all of that in play, the narrative has shifted toward how much control Rodgers has over the situation. Interpretations may vary, but one part is hard to overlook: The delay in his decision continues to shape how the Steelers approach the quarterback position heading into the season.

Aaron Rodgers’ presence could impact the Steelers’ draft strategy

The Steelers currently have Mason Rudolph and Will Howard in their quarterback room. During free agency, the franchise chose not to bring in a veteran option, even when reports linked them to names like Kirk Cousins. The reasoning was fairly straightforward: Aaron Rodgers.

Team owner Art Rooney II has already said he expects clarity from Rodgers before the 2026 NFL Draft. With draft weekend now less than a week away, that timeline is getting tighter. At the same time, while draft analysts have connected Pittsburgh to Ty Simpson out of the Alabama Crimson Tide in the first round, their continued belief in Rodgers could influence that decision at No. 21.

“Though the Steelers have done their homework on the quarterbacks, including first-round hopeful Ty Simpson, it doesn’t appear they’ll go that way at No. 21,” Steelers reporter Brooke Pryor of ESPN noted. “They continue to believe Aaron Rodgers will ultimately return for another season. Instead, they could take best available player among wide receiver, offensive line, defensive line or any spot in the secondary.”

The quarterback class this year is underwhelming anyway. After the projected first overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, no one matches the caliber. The Indy product is, of course, going to the Las Vegas Raiders. While Simpson is the next best choice at the position, the projections haven’t been that great. Moreover, Pittsburgh does not feel forced to draft a quarterback this year.

That leaves the door open for Rodgers. The Steelers would want his answer sooner rather than later. But he knows Mike McCarthy’s offense better than anyone on the team right now, giving him time and self-confidence. Even then, the longer-term question remains.

At some point, the Steelers will have to address life after Rodgers. Whether that path involves Howard developing into a long-term answer or the team targeting a top quarterback prospect in next year’s draft, the team has yet to determine.