When Steelers reportedly could make final Aaron Rodgers decision after hiring of Mike McCarthy

While speaking with reporters on Tuesday, recently hired Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed that he "definitely" would welcome 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers back for another season. 

That said, Rodgers' plans for the 2026 campaign remain unknown to outsiders. Last offseason, the Steelers waited until June before Rodgers put pen to paper on a team-friendly one-year contract to join the club. It sounds like Pittsburgh will want the future Hall of Famer to make a decision much earlier this time around. 

Clock is ticking for Aaron Rodgers to inform Steelers of his plans

"I don't think the Steelers are gonna wait past free agency this year," team insider Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said about Rodgers during a Wednesday appearance on Pittsburgh sports radio station 93.7 The Fan, per Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot. "If Aaron wants to test free agency, I think the Steelers probably have to move on. I think they kind of want to know in February what's going on. Early March, at the latest."

McCarthy and Rodgers famously guided the Green Bay Packers to one Super Bowl championship when McCarthy served as that club's head coach from 2006 through much of the 2018 season. The two have spoken highly of each other since their days together in Green Bay, but that doesn't necessarily mean Rodgers will want to continue playing. 

Is Aaron Rodgers, Mike McCarthy reunion the inevitable conclusion of this story? 

It was previously reported that Rodgers revealed in December that he "probably" would retire this offseason. He has dealt with numerous physical setbacks over the past several years, including a small fracture in his left (non-throwing) wrist that he suffered in Week 11 of this season. 

The Steelers currently have longtime backup Mason Rudolph and 2025 sixth-round draft pick Will Howard in their quarterback room. It may be wishful thinking for Pittsburgh to believe either would be an upgrade over what Rodgers could offer the club this coming fall. 

"It seems like a reunion is almost inevitable at this point," Fittipaldo added about Rodgers during the segment. 

The clock is ticking for Rodgers to eliminate the "almost" portion of such takes before the new league year opens in March.