Steelers' Art Rooney II singing different tune about Aaron Rodgers after concerning update

It was back in March when Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II revealed that he expected to learn whether or not veteran Aaron Rodgers would return to serve as the club's starting quarterback for the 2026 season before the upcoming draft gets underway in Pittsburgh this Thursday night. 

Rodgers remains unsigned, and it was reported on Monday that "there is no expectation of a final decision prior to the NFL Draft." During an interview with CBS Pittsburgh that aired on Monday night, Rooney indicated he isn't confident he'll learn of Rodgers' intentions this week.

Sounds like the Steelers don't know when Aaron Rodgers decision will come

"I don't know if it'll be before the draft," Rooney said about a possible Rodgers announcement, per Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot. "I think it'll be soon. Can't put an exact day on it or anything like that. But yeah, I think it'll happen soon. One way or the other."

As recently as Monday evening, Cleveland Browns reporter Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand reiterated that "everyone in Pittsburgh expects the reunion of new coach Mike McCarthy and quarterback Aaron Rodgers to be consummated before the team’s mandatory veteran minicamp in June." 

Rodgers had McCarthy as a head coach when they were with the Green Bay Packers from 2006 through a portion of the 2018 season, and the two remain close. Thus, it's not all that alarming for the Steelers that unproven 2025 rookie Will Howard is their temporary QB1 for bonus minicamp sessions this spring. 

Relationship between Steelers, Aaron Rodgers is "great?"

"We've had some great communication with Aaron," Steelers general manager Omar Khan said on Monday, per Kozora. "Nothing's changed. It's all been positive and good. I said this to you guys in March when we met. He knows how we feel about him. We know how he feels about us."

Whether or not the Steelers make Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson the 21st overall pick of the draft on Thursday night could say plenty regarding Rodgers' short-term future. For now, Howard will get what he and the Steelers hope will be useful reps as the football world waits to hear from Rodgers.