Steelers insider offers alarming update on Aaron Rodgers situation

Multiple reports recently indicated that the Pittsburgh Steelers were handling personnel decisions in the early days of the new league year as if they knew for sure that Aaron Rodgers would be their starting quarterback for the 2026 season. 

It appears that isn't the case. 

Is Aaron Rodgers' Steelers future really up in the air?

On the latest edition of the "North Shore Drive" podcast, Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette addressed what head coach Mike McCarthy and general manager Omar Khan know about Rodgers' intentions. 

"They truly don't know what Aaron Rodgers is gonna do," Fittipaldo explained, per Ross McCorkle of Steelers Depot. "They think he's coming back. They hope he's coming back." 

On Tuesday, NFL insider Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom US mentioned that former Atlanta Falcons starter and current free agent Kirk Cousins "is viewed as a viable option" for the Steelers if Rodgers retires. La Canfora added that the Steelers have given Rodgers "no direct timeline" to inform them of his plans. 

Why Aaron Rodgers retirement may not be the "worst-case scenario" for Steelers

Back in late February, Khan insisted that it wouldn't be the "worst-case scenario" if Rodgers retired and sparked a competition for the Pittsburgh starting job involving longtime backup Mason Rudolph and 2025 sixth-round draft pick Will Howard. Fittipaldo suggested that some within the Steelers could view a Rodgers retirement as a blessing in disguise. 

"I think there's also something to be said if Aaron Rodgers doesn't come back," Fittipaldo continued. "The Steelers would never say it out loud, but that's their chance to reset, right? They could actually go into the 2026 season -- I'm not saying Will Howard would be the day-one starter, but eventually at some point in '26 they would find out about him. If it worked out, great. Maybe you found your future starter in the sixth round. But if not, maybe you finish five, six wins, you're picking in the top 10, and then you have a really good shot at one of these quarterbacks who are coming out in the 2027 draft."

For what it's worth, former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin eventually admitted that he "knew something" about Rodgers' intentions for the 2025 season long before the future Hall of Famer officially inked a one-year deal with Pittsburgh in June of last year. 

It seems unlikely Rodgers would hang McCarthy out to dry considering the two are close, but it sounds like the only thing for sure about the 42-year-old's future as of March 17 is that nothing is for sure.