Steelers' Art Rooney II gives big update on expected Aaron Rodgers decision

A report from last week indicated that it is not a "slam dunk" that Aaron Rodgers will return to the Pittsburgh Steelers to serve as their starting quarterback for one more season. 

While speaking with media members at the annual NFL league meeting on Sunday, Steelers president Art Rooney II discussed whether or not he believes he will know Rodgers' intentions before the 2026 NFL Draft gets underway in Pittsburgh on April 23. 

Will Steelers know Aaron Rodgers' plans before the draft? 

"I still expect that," Rooney said, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I expect we’ll get an answer before the draft."

To outsiders, Steelers general manager Omar Khan and recently hired head coach Mike McCarthy have acted like they know Rodgers will be back atop the Pittsburgh depth chart sooner rather than later. The Steelers thus far have made no real attempt to add to their quarterback room that is occupied by longtime backup Mason Rudolph and unproven 2025 rookie Will Howard. Some have suggested that people within the Steelers may view veteran Kirk Cousins as a possible option in the event that Rodgers retires, but Pittsburgh appears to be in no hurry to keep Cousins from possibly signing elsewhere. 

Steelers only "expect" this Aaron Rodgers outcome? 

Teams that may have different QB1s coming off the 2025 season have already addressed such needs, so it remains likely that Rodgers will either play for Pittsburgh later this year or ride off into the sunset of retirement. Rodgers waited until June to sign a one-year contract with the Steelers last offseason, but Rooney hinted that the future Hall of Famer won't leave the club hanging for quite as long this time around. 

"When I talked to [Rodgers] and Omar 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 added during his comments. "I’m not 100 percent sure what that means, but I expect something before the draft."

McCarthy was Rodgers' head coach when they were employed by the Green Bay Packers from 2006 through a portion of the 2018 season. The two seem to have a good relationship, but it sounds like that doesn't necessarily guarantee anything regarding Rodgers' decision about possibly retiring instead of reuniting with McCarthy this spring.