Steelers Ownership Issues Timeline For Aaron Rodgers Decision

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Jan 29, 2026 11:23 AM ET

It's debatable whether the Pittsburgh Steelers hired Mike McCarthy as their new head coach because of star QB Aaron Rodgers or in spite of him, but Rodgers is still under contract with the team regardless.

As the Steelers mull their plans for 2026 and beyond with McCarthy at the helm, the short-term question of whether Rodgers will be a part of the team lingers. As far as Steelers owner Art Rooney II is concerned, he's expecting an answer from the four-time NFL MVP on his 2026 playing status sometime in the next month.

"We don’t know what Aaron’s plans are right now, and that did not weigh heavily in the decision," Rooney said, via the Steelers’ official website. "We’ll see where Aaron is, and we’ve left the door open, but obviously we all have to sit down and see if that makes sense. So that’ll happen sometime in the next month or so. But the decision was made based on Mike being the coach we want, and it really had very little to do with whether Aaron is going to be back or not."

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) looks on after being sacked during the first half of the NFL Wild Card game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA on January 12, 2026.© Michael Longo/For USA Today Network-PA / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

Rodgers & the Steelers

2025 was a bit of a renaissance year for Rodgers. He put up some of his best numbers in years, finishing with 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns with just seven interceptions, and led the Steelers to the playoffs.

But there were rumblings well before the playoffs that head coach Mike Tomlin might step down and that proved to be the case after the team went one-and-done in the postseason. Tomlin resigned and rumors quickly spread that Rodgers was devastated by the decision.

Rodgers himself has not said anything in regards to his future with the Steelers, so for now we can only guess as to what his intentions are.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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