Steelers Expecting Aaron Rodgers Resolution Before Draft

While Rodgers seemed destined to join the Steelers last offseason, it took the quarterback until June to finally sign a contract. Rooney said the franchise isn’t expecting to wait around nearly as long this year.

“When I talked to him and Omar [Khan] talked to him, he told us he wasn’t going to take as long this year as he did last year [to make a decision],” Rooney said. “I’m not 100% sure what that means, but I expect something before the draft.”

The Steelers are expecting a quicker resolution this offseason because there aren’t as many (if any) suitors for the veteran QB. While the Raiders were mentioned as a fallback option, it’s always been assumed that Rodgers will either re-sign with Pittsburgh or hang up his cleats. While there was some speculation that the 42-year-old may want his own clarity from the draft, it’s sounding like the team’s first-year additions won’t have any influence on Rodgers’ final decision.

Also working in the Steelers’ favor is the status of Mike McCarthy, who the Steelers hired to replace long-time head coach Mike Tomlin. McCarthy and Rodgers obviously have a relationship dating back from their time in Green Bay, and it’s believed that the addition will ultimately convince the QB to re-up with the franchise. McCarthy spoke with reporters this week and said he’s spoken with Rodgers “every couple of days,” adding that he’s “comfortable with the dialogue that’s occured.”

“Just like they always are, life, football, what’s going on at the facility,” McCarthy said of his conversations with Rodgers (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “So he’s really engaged with what’s going on. … I would just say he’s in a very positive space. We’ll just continue to engage in conversations.”

While the Steelers seem to be counting on Rodgers to be under center in 2026, that won’t stop them from pursuing other players at the position. When asked if the organization would consider selecting a QB in the draft, Khan told reporters that “all options are on the table.”