After a winning season after years, Aaron Rodgers might return to Pittsburgh. Sure, he entered the Steel City in 2025 because of Mike Tomlin, but the Steelers’ new head coach happens to be the veteran’s former HC from Green Bay. So, while the possibility of a reunion is quite strong, owner Art Rooney II has already established what needs to happen before.

“We don’t know what Aaron is thinking right now,” Art Rooney said recently in a one-on-one conversation with Pittsburgh Post-Gazette insider Gerry Dulac. “We don’t want to jump to conclusions until Mike and Aaron have a chance to really sit down and talk about how they would feel about working together for another year.

“So there’s more to come on that front. Let’s put it that way.” 

Last year, former head coach Tomlin played a major role in convincing Rodgers to come to Pittsburgh, even as the QB entered his 40s and was contemplating retirement. But it was natural that with Tomlin stepping down, and a possibility of a new head coach might have influenced the QB’s final decision. However, everything changed when the Steelers announced McCarthy as the successor.

At the same time, Rodgers has hinted that he has more fuel left in him for at least another year. But he never mentioned if he wanted to return to Pittsburgh in his exit interview. Meanwhile, McCarthy would also want a reunion, but he has already set a notice for the 42-year-old: give an answer in one month.

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That is a short leash for Rodgers.

Last offseason, by stringing Tomlin along for over five months, the future Hall of Famer finally decided to wear the gold and black. McCarthy has already set the deadline for Rodgers. Reasons are understandable.

Whether or not Rodgers wants to return, the Steelers will still want to look into their quarterback room. McCarthy is already impressed with the now-second-year Will Howard’s potential. However, they could look to add depth there with another QB from the 2026 NFL Draft that Pittsburgh is hosting.

If the Packers legend does return for another year, McCarthy can use his experience and guidance to coach Howard and other young players. They are also looking into free agency for a veteran quarterback alongside Mason Rudolph to add experience to the rather young squad. But if Rodgers does return, the Steelers would only be better next season.

Rodgers’ McCarthy connection and its influence on the Steelers’ QB room

Rodgers played under McCarthy as a Packer between 2008 and 2018, and we all know the dominant run the QB-coach duo had in that decade.

He earned two NFL MVP awards, seven Pro Bowl selections, and a Super Bowl title and posted a 100-57-1 record. Rodgers even threw for 42,615 yards, 337 touchdowns, and 79 interceptions, with a passer rating of 103.5 during that time span. 

So, if he does choose to return to Pittsburgh, who knows McCarthy’s playbook better than him? At the same time, the head coach, too, is well-versed with Rodgers’ playing style, which should help the two reduce the developmental gap.

But it is also true that after 21 seasons in the NFL, Aaron Rodgers isn’t the same quarterback he once was.

Still, after signing a one-year deal with the Steelers last year, Rodgers led the team to a 10-7 record to win the AFC North title. He threw for 3,322 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, with a 65.7% completion rate. But as Rodgers failed to reach the Super Bowl and recently turned 42, retirement remains a very real possibility for him.

Besides, the focus in Pittsburgh’s quarterback room is also shifting with a focus on long-term plans. With McCarthy at the helm, Will Howard and Mason Rudolph are now at the center of the Steelers’ plans for the QB position. But they are still ready to explore both free agency and the trade market. Already, a veteran QB from Atlanta has also been linked to the Steelers as a potential trade prospect.

A Falcons QB emerges as an option for the Steelers

If Aaron Rodgers decides to walk away from Pittsburgh next season, the Steelers will have a new potential quarterback option available via trade. On February 7, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Atlanta Falcons are expected to release their veteran QB Kirk Cousins, in March, which will be before the beginning of the new league year. This situation related to Cousins further made Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski propose a trade option for the Steelers.

“In Pittsburgh, new head coach Mike McCarthy hired Brian Angelichio as his offensive coordinator,” Sobleski wrote in a recent article. “Angelichio served as Cousins’ passing game coordinator during the 37-year-old veteran’s last two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.

“If the Falcons are receptive and the Steelers pull the trigger on a trade—even with the possibility of a deal not coming together until after the draft—Pittsburgh would likely pass on a quarterback altogether, with a second option not being selected in this year’s first round.”

Sobleski pointed out that Kirk Cousins already has familiarity with the Steelers’ coaching staff, which could ease the transition if he goes to Pittsburgh. But does Cousins’ recent performance make him a good addition for the Steelers?

The Falcons signed Cousins to a massive four-year, $180 million deal in 2024 after his productive six-year run with the Minnesota Vikings. But just one month later, the Falcons used a first-round pick to draft QB Michael Penix Jr., effectively putting uncertainty over Cousins’ future with the team. 

By Week 16 of the 2024 season, Penix had taken over the starting role. In 2025, Penix started the first nine games before suffering a torn ACL that ended his season, making way for Cousins.

In ten games this season, he recorded 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions, with a passer rating of 84.8. Cousins also led the Falcons to a 5-3 record in his eight starts. He certainly kept the Falcons in contention for some time and had a decent year. However, Penix is still viewed as the Falcons’ future QB.

Since Cousins, as a veteran, would want to be a starter, he might ask for a trade. Now, at 37, Cousins might not be a long-term solution for the Steelers, but he could provide stability for the team with his consistency and veteran leadership if Aaron Rodgers decides to leave. For now, it is still a waiting game for the Steelers, and the ball is again in Rodgers’ court. How will he decide to play it out?