For most of the time, like the last offseason, quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been playing catch with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has been in talks with general manager Omar Khan and his former Packers coach and current Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy. But when it comes to answering if he is returning, there’s just radio silence.

While Mike Tomlin did not have many cards in his hands then, McCarthy has proven that he holds enough power over the veteran. What’s even more telling is that with this decision usually placed on a restricted free agent, the Steelers end up gaining one way or the other.

“Sources: the Steelers placed the rare right-of-first-refusal tender on Aaron Rodgers, meaning that he can accept a 10 percent raise off last year’s salary, which would pay him about $15 million this season, and the Steelers also now will have the right to match any offer sheet he would sign with another team.

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“As another condition of the tender, Rodgers would only be able to sign with the Steelers once training camp begins,” reported ESPN’s Adam Schefter on X. But here’s where things get interesting…

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You see, not many teams put a tender on an unrestricted free agent because there’s rarely a UFA of Rodgers’ caliber. But the Steelers know how Rodgers, in some way, helped them last season. If he is available to play again, that too under McCarthy, it would multiply the result tenfold. However, let’s say he retires.

Rodgers is 42 years old and has already signalled that he needs time for his private life. So, his retirement is fairly possible. But if he does, the Steelers will possibly get a compensatory pick in the next NFL draft because this would count against their cap. What makes this step rare is that often this tender is placed on a restricted free agent. Meanwhile, Rodgers is an unrestricted free agent. So, why would the Steelers do this?

In the 2025 offseason, the veteran QB took over five months to confirm if he would come to Pittsburgh. This time around, Khan had already asked him to give his answer before the free agency started. Lo and behold, the draft is over, and the first offseason voluntary camp is also up. The answer? It never came. So, with the UFA tender, the Steelers are potentially accelerating Rodgers’ decision.

He will have to sign with another team or retire before July 22 or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later. If you remember, though, he has always said he wants to retire a Packer. It is highly unlikely that the Packers will accept him, but let’s say conversations do happen. Still, Pittsburgh comes out a winner.

While the player is allowed to sign with any team before that date, the Steelers have the right to refuse, which gives them freedom from losing their veteran QB. According to the tender, the Steelers will receive exclusive negotiating rights on Rodgers if he does not sign anywhere.

It’s not that all gains go to the Steelers this way, though. Rodgers will also catch some pretty pennies.

His last contract with the Steelers was $13.65 million in 2025. With a ten percent increase, he is bound to take $15 million. For a future Hall of Famer like him, however, it would not be a decision influenced by money.

The increased contract value, which will be triggered if he signs back with the Steelers, is merely an added incentive. However, it gives the Steelers an upper hand in probably confirming that the ten-time Pro Bowler returns to the franchise.

LeGarrette Blount is one of the few UFAs in the NFL who received a tender. His came in 2017 by the New England Patriots.

Rodgers has openly mentioned he doesn’t want to address his NFL future. But if he chooses to retire, the Steelers have secured the position with yet another name.

The Pittsburgh Steelers picked their possible starter in the 2026 NFL Draft

The two biggest advantages of Rodgers’ return would be his familiarity with both the team and head coach Mike McCarthy. Having coached him for 13 years and winning a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers, he knows Rodgers’ eliteness and how it would uplift the offense. Meanwhile, the quarterback also knows McCarthy’s offense like the back of his hand, making it easier for him to get up to the pace. But while McCarthy is hopeful of his return, he made preparations for the worst-case scenario.

Due to the possibility of Aaron Rodgers retiring, the franchise has drafted Penn State quarterback Drew Allar in the third round of the NFL draft. He becomes the third quarterback that the Steelers have besides Mason Rudolph and Will Howard. Despite suffering a season-ending broken left ankle in October 2025, Allar has shown that he is a top QB prospect.

In 45 games (35 starts), he recorded 7,402 passing yards and 61 touchdowns with a 63% pass completion rate. Since he is a dual-threat QB, he also added 732 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in 224 attempts.

Beside him, McCarthy has also made Howard take the reps as QB1 at the voluntary camp. Howard was not able to find minutes on the team last season, but he has already expressed the desire to take up the starting spot if Rodgers does not return to the Steelers.

Meanwhile, Rudolph was the supposed starter if Rodgers didn’t sign last year. He was also the veteran’s backup. So, he might get the chance again. What’s sure is that the Black and Gold are strengthening their quarterback room. If Rodgers returns, it will be great. If he doesn’t, they have taken significant steps to keep the boat afloat.