A recent report revealed that “the odds are increasing” for 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers to serve as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starter for a second straight year, this time under recently hired head coach Mike McCarthy.
During a Monday appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter shared what Rodgers’ Pittsburgh teammates said about him following the club’s 30-6 wild-card playoff loss to the Houston Texans on Jan. 12.
Steelers players seem to have clear choice for 2026 Week 1 QB1
“When they had the exit meetings with the Pittsburgh Steelers players, almost to a man, they all wanted Aaron Rodgers back,” Schefter explained, per Dominic Campbell of Sports Illustrated. “And the one thing that was conveyed to me was how much respect and love there was from other teammates about Aaron Rodgers and how much they wanted him back.”
Schefter added that the Steelers’ plan at the time those meetings took place was to give Rodgers “about a month” to make a decision about his future. The new league year officially opens on March 11.
A previous report suggested that Rodgers could be ready to ride off into the sunset of retirement this winter. However, that story went public before Pittsburgh hired McCarthy, who was Rodgers’ head coach with the Green Bay Packers from 2006 through a portion of the 2018 season.
Did Steelers hire Mike McCarthy with Aaron Rodgers in mind?
Understandably, some have assumed the Steelers hired McCarthy in an attempt to convince Rodgers to run it back with the organization for another campaign. Schefter addressed such speculation during the show segment.
“They didn’t hire Mike McCarthy to bring back Aaron Rodgers,” Schefter said. “But I don’t think that hurts the situation at all. If anything, it helps it. Obviously, Aaron Rodgers has to decide what he wants to do, but I think the Pittsburgh Steelers absolutely would love to have him back and welcome him back.”
Rodgers has also been linked with a Minnesota Vikings side that may not want to have 2024 first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy atop its depth chart this coming spring. Rodgers has a close relationship with Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, and reports from last year hinted that the future Hall of Famer would have signed with Minnesota instead of Pittsburgh had O’Connell not been eager to start McCarthy in 2025.