Steelers reportedly have surprising take on possible Aaron Rodgers retirement

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy saying on Tuesday that he is "confident" Aaron Rodgers will return to serve as the club's starting quarterback for the 2026 season understandably left some wondering if McCarthy already knows Rodgers' decision. 

It appears McCarthy and Co. truly do have a plan B in mind in the event that Rodgers retires this spring. 

Steelers "very comfortable" if Aaron Rodgers retires?

During the latest edition of "The North Shore Drive" podcast, Steelers reporter Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette insisted that McCarthy and others within the organization are "very comfortable" with however the latest Rodgers-related saga comes to an end. 

"Because they know, eventually, that they have to move on and develop a franchise quarterback," Fittipaldo explained, per Jake Brockhoff of Steelers Depot. "And if it so happens that Aaron Rodgers decides to retire this year, they have told us that they are comfortable and looking forward to working with (2025 rookie) Will Howard. And (longtime backup) Mason Rudolph is already in the building." 

As recently as Tuesday, McCarthy expressed belief that Howard could develop into a franchise quarterback. Former Atlanta Falcons starter Kirk Cousins is still an option as a possible temporary QB1 for Pittsburgh, but the Las Vegas Raiders may want to sign and start him over presumed No. 1 draft pick Fernando Mendoza.

When could Steelers select a QB during 2026 NFL Draft? 

Multiple reports have indicated that the Steelers will pass on spending a high-value draft pick on Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson during this year's draft. Fittipaldo believes that Pittsburgh could wait and target a quarterback such as Miami's Carson Beck or Penn State’s Drew Allar in the draft's third or fourth round. The Steelers previously met with those signal-callers. 

As for when Rodgers will inform the Steelers of his plans, team owner/president Art Rooney II said on multiple occasions this week that he expects to learn of the 42-year-old's intentions before the draft gets underway in Pittsburgh on April 23. McCarthy and Rodgers have apparently been in constant contact this spring, but that doesn't guarantee that the future Hall of Famer will be Pittsburgh's QB1 later this year.