Do Steelers already know what Aaron Rodgers will do for 2026 season?

The Pittsburgh Steelers agreed to acquire wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. from the Indianapolis Colts and also came to terms on a two-year, $12.25M deal with running back Rico Dowdle.

It seems some believe those moves were made with 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers in mind. 

Where are Aaron Rodgers, Steelers in offseason conversations?

On Sunday, Steelers reporter Brooke Pryor of ESPN addressed how Pittsburgh's offseason activity may indicate that recently hired head coach Mike McCarthy is confident Rodgers will be his starting quarterback this coming September. 

"Though Rodgers hasn't given the Steelers a concrete answer on his future, the two sides continue to engage in positive conversations, and Rodgers is aware of the ongoing roster construction," Pryor wrote. "And if he doesn't return, the Steelers' moves would also work well for second-year quarterback Will Howard, who won a national championship at Ohio State with the help of a dominant defense and physical run game."

Conflicting reports have emerged about the Steelers' alleged thoughts on Howard, a 2025 sixth-round draft pick who took zero in-game snaps as a rookie. A rumor surfaced linking Pittsburgh with Alabama Crimson Tide signal-caller Ty Simpson. Part of that report said that the Steelers' plan may be for Rodgers to play for one more year before Simpson takes over as Pittsburgh's QB1. 

Last offseason, Rodgers didn't officially ink a one-year contract to join the Steelers until June. However, former Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin later revealed that he "knew something" about Rodgers' intentions for the 2025 season before the draft. 

It now seems as if the Steelers are putting together an offense that would serve a veteran quarterback who isn't quite as mobile as he was in his physical prime. 

Steelers are not rebuilding amid Aaron Rodgers uncertainty

"It's not a total rebuild," Pryor added about the Steelers. "Instead, McCarthy and general manager Omar Khan appear to be prioritizing complementary players to enhance the Steelers' identity as a physical, run-first offense."

Taking some responsibilities for the offense's production off Rodgers' plate could help keep him as fully fit as possible through the second half of a grueling campaign. While history shows nothing with Rodgers is a sure thing until he puts pen to paper on an agreement, it continues to feel like a matter of when and not if he will be back on Pittsburgh's active roster.