Alleged odds of Aaron Rodgers returning to Steelers revealed as Cardinals' Mike LaFleur doesn't deny interest

Pittsburgh Steelers reporter Mark Kaboly of "The Pat McAfee Show" has repeatedly made it known that he is confident Aaron Rodgers will soon re-sign with the club to be its starting quarterback for the 2026 season. 

On the latest edition of the "Kaboly + Mack" program, the insider repeated that take amid rumors suggesting that Rodgers may have some interest in featuring for the Arizona Cardinals.

"Over 99 percent" chance Aaron Rodgers will make this decision?

"Even if he comes in, you don't want him to participate in (organized team activities)," Kaboly said about Rodgers and the Steelers, per Ross McCorkle of Steelers Depot. "And if they really believe that he's going to say yes, which I still believe it's over 99 percent. To me, it doesn't make any sense. And the revisionist history is just crazy." 

Also on Tuesday, Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur had an opportunity to put a stop to chatter about his club possibly pursuing Rodgers during an appearance on "The Jim Rome Show." LaFleur instead went down a different route. 

"Honestly, Jim, right now we're focused on the guys that we've got coming in," LaFleur said during his non-answer about Rodgers. "You got the unit we have with [Gardner Minshew] and [Jacoby Brissett] and [Kedon Slovis]. And then we draft Carson Beck in the third round. ...So we've got a room we're excited to work with, and that's solely where my focus is."

What reporters are saying about the Aaron Rodgers, Cardinals links

Some tried to connect dots while linking Rodgers to the Cardinals before Arizona wide receiver Kendrick Bourne took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to tell the future Hall of Famer that "we waiting on you." Despite that post, there continues to be no indication that Rodgers will play for any team other than the Steelers in 2026.

On Tuesday, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter and ESPN's Josh Weinfuss both brushed off the idea of Rodgers potentially signing with the Cardinals. Schefter said Rodgers simply has "not been ready" to rejoin the Steelers, and Weinfuss noted that he learned from a source that talk about the 42-year-old heading to Arizona was "not at all" real. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh's OTAs are scheduled to get underway on May 18.

"He'll make his decision," Kaboly added about Rodgers. "I think I said this to you a couple weeks ago about the May 18 thing. I mean, they're pretty much telling you the date without telling you the date, but nobody's listening to that part of it."

By placing an unrestricted free-agent tender on Rodgers, the Steelers ensured that they would receive a compensatory draft pick if he signs with another team before July 22 or the first day of Pittsburgh's training camp, whichever comes later. After that, the Steelers will have exclusive negotiating rights for the veteran signal-caller. 

It remains to be seen if the Steelers' reported frustration over Rodgers' lack of a decision could cause them to change their minds about wanting him back if he doesn't re-sign by May 18. Currently, the club has longtime backup Mason Rudolph, 2025 rookie Will Howard and 2026 third-round draft pick Drew Allar set to take quarterback reps for them throughout the rest of the spring.