Previous reports indicated that at least some people within the Pittsburgh Steelers expect quarterback Aaron Rodgers to re-sign with the franchise before the organized team practice activity portion of Pittsburgh’s offseason program begins this coming Monday (May 18).
However, some outsiders understandably have wondered how head coach Mike McCarthy and others associated with the Steelers will react if Rodgers remains unsigned through and even beyond the Memorial Day holiday.
For his latest live chat, Steelers reporter Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was asked if the club has a “red line” date in mind for when it could close the door on a potential Rodgers return.
Do the Steelers have a deadline date for Aaron Rodgers decision in mind?
“Whenever Mike McCarthy is asked, I don’t get the sense there is a red line,” Fittipaldo responded to a question. “Anyone who saw the video from Saturday could detect he knows something, and all signs point to Rodgers being his QB in 2026. So while others in the organization might be rankled by Rodgers’ indecision, it seems to me McCarthy is who’s most important because he knows what it will take for Rodgers to get on the same page with his teammates. I’ll say June 2 (the first day of mandatory minicamp).”
Fittipaldo was referencing how McCarthy was Rodgers’ head coach when they were employed by the Green Bay Packers from 2006 through much of the 2018 season. While some have questioned if the two will get along once they resume their working relationship, both McCarthy and Rodgers have suggested that there won’t be any problems.
“As long as he indicates he wants to play in 2026, they’re going to be interested…unless this drags into late June,” Fittipaldo wrote about how Rodgers is viewed by Steelers people.
Are the Steelers now frustrated with Aaron Rodgers?
A story from earlier in May mentioned that the Steelers’ “patience will start to turn into frustration and maybe something more” if Rodgers doesn’t re-sign by the start of OTAs. According to Fittipaldo, McCarthy isn’t losing sleep over the matter, nor is the coach bothered that Rodgers “was in town last weekend” but didn’t meet with the Steelers.
“My sense is the frustration comes with the uncertainty,” Fittipaldo added about the Rodgers saga, “but as I wrote above, it seems like McCarthy already knows what’s going to happen.”
Last year, Rodgers didn’t officially sign until right before the start of Pittsburgh’s mandatory minicamp. Fittipaldo’s update could lead one to believe history will repeat itself this spring.