Aaron Rodgers is staying put in Pittsburgh. The four-time MVP agreed to a one-year contract with the Steelers on Saturday, according to two people with knowledge of the decision who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity ahead of an official announcement.
The 42-year-old quarterback led the Steelers to the AFC North title in 2025, his first season with the franchise. He threw for 24 touchdowns against seven interceptions and quickly became a stabilizing force for a storied organization. Now he will enter his 22nd NFL season and what could be his final chapter with Pittsburgh.
The reunion comes as Rodgers reconnects with Mike McCarthy, the architect of his greatest years in Green Bay. McCarthy took over as Steelers head coach in January after Mike Tomlin departed following 19 seasons. During their 13 years together in Wisconsin, Rodgers and McCarthy won a Super Bowl and claimed two of his four MVP awards.
Rodgers had dragged out his decision throughout the offseason, letting a pair of natural checkpoints slip past unsigned. When free agency opened in March, he was not yet a Steeler. The NFL draft came and went in Pittsburgh last month with his status still unresolved. The team even placed an unrestricted free agent tender on him, an uncommon protective measure designed to keep him from bolting if another organization came calling before training camp.
Whether a genuine market for Rodgers existed remains unclear, though the Steelers left little doubt about their interest. After signing late in June last year, Rodgers spent seven-plus months winning over his locker room with his leadership and commitment to the organization's winning culture. Teammates and coaches took notice.
The quarterback landscape in Pittsburgh has shifted during Rodgers' deliberation. The Steelers drafted Penn State's Drew Allar in the third round and selected Will Howard in the sixth. Mason Rudolph remains on the roster. Rodgers will lead a quarterback room that has grown while he pondered his future.
The organization begins organized team activities on May 18, though it remains to be seen when Rodgers will fully participate with his teammates. His decision Saturday effectively ends months of speculation about whether he would commit to another season in black and gold.
Author James Rodriguez: "Rodgers took his sweet time, but he's clearly found a home in Pittsburgh, and McCarthy's presence makes this a real Super Bowl window."
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