The Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II has effectively set a deadline for Aaron Rodgers, making clear the franchise expects a firm decision on his future before the 2026 NFL Draft begins in April.
The 42-year-old Rodgers is coming off a one-year stint in Pittsburgh, remains undecided about whether he will return, and that uncertainty has prompted the organization to push for clarity as roster planning intensifies.
“I still expect that,” Rooney told Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Sunday at the annual league meeting in Arizona. “I expect we’ll get an answer before the draft.
“When I talked to him and Omar Khan 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. “I’m not 100 percent sure what that means, but I expect something before the draft.”
The timing is significant, because the draft, which begins April 23 in Pittsburgh, represents a critical inflection point, and the Steelers need to understand whether quarterback remains an immediate priority.
Rodgers’ 2025 performance, meanwhile, complicates the decision, as he delivered solid production across the regular season, helping Pittsburgh to a division title, yet the playoff exit exposed limitations.
But the Steelers’ internal optimism, however, is tied in part to the presence of Mike McCarthy, who previously coached Rodgers in Green Bay, and whose arrival has reopened the possibility of a reunion.
“Yes, it’d be a great story,” McCarthy said. “I don’t know. I would love to tell everybody [there is] breaking news.
“It’s really cool to see Aaron at 42 and to see a young man at 22 and all that he’s been able to accomplish and where he’s at in his personal life and trying to make this decision. He’s in a really good place, but…
“I think he’s in a really good place.”
Why did Rooney set Rodgers a decision deadline in Pittsburgh?
Rodgers completed 65.7 percent of his passes last season, and while his touchdown-to-interception ratio remained efficient, the offense struggled in key postseason moments, particularly under sustained pressure.
The Steelers’ hope for Rodgers returning is closely tied to Mike McCarthy’s arrival, who coached Rodgers for 13 seasons in Green Bay, including a Super Bowl XLV victory, a 15-1 season, and multiple NFC title appearances, which sets a familiar environment for a reunion.
Rodgers, 42, finished the 2025 season completing 65.7% of his passes for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, yet he played the final six games with multiple fractures in his left wrist, a challenge that contributed to Pittsburgh’s postseason loss to the Houston Texans.
In that wild-card defeat, Rodgers was 17-of-33 for 146 yards with one interception and took four sacks, highlighting inconsistencies under pressure, and raising concerns about his durability if expected to lead the Steelers for another season.
At the same time, Pittsburgh’s quarterback room lacks certainty, because both Mason Rudolph and Will Howard represent fallback options rather than definitive long-term answers, increasing the stakes of Rodgers’ decision.
From a strategic standpoint, the Steelers hold multiple draft selections, and therefore, clarity on Rodgers will directly influence whether they target a quarterback early or continue building around a veteran-led roster.
Rodgers has historically taken time to make offseason decisions, including last year when he delayed signing until June minicamp.
This offseason, Rooney and Khan hope for a quicker commitment, emphasizing the importance of clarity before the draft begins on April 23 in Pittsburgh.