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As recently as last week, a report<\/a> revealed that the\u00a0<\/span>Pittsburgh Steelers<\/a> “want quarterback Aaron Rodgers to return for 2026” and are “in no hurry” for Rodgers to inform them of his plans following the hiring of Mike McCarthy\u00a0as their head coach.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n During Monday’s edition of the ESPN “Get Up” program, former NFL general manager and current analyst Mike Tannenbaum offered a stern warning for the Steelers regarding their Rodgers-related hopes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n “I would clearly move on from him,” Tannenbaum said about how Pittsburgh should handle Rodgers potentially testing free agency when the new league year opens on March 11, per Josh Carney<\/a> of Steelers Depot. “Look, last year they were 25th in the league in explosive play rate. He is obviously an all-time great player, Aaron Rodgers is, but he’s gonna be 43 in December. You have a new head coach. Give Will Howard a chance as [fellow ESPN personality Domonique Foxworth] mentioned, and then go scour.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Tannenbaum suggested that the Steelers could target either current Arizona Cardinals<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>signal-caller Kyler Murray or Atlanta Falcons<\/a>\u00a0veteran Kirk Cousins. Murray seemingly has several\u00a0<\/span>red flags<\/span><\/a>\u00a0hovering over his status this winter, while Cousins may prefer to\u00a0<\/span>return<\/span><\/a>\u00a0to the\u00a0<\/span>Minnesota Vikings<\/span><\/a>\u00a0in March.<\/span><\/p>\n Pro Football Reference<\/span><\/a>\u00a0stats show that Rodgers finished this past regular season ranked 30th in the league among qualified players with a 44.4 adjusted QBR, 14th with a 94.8 passer rating and 15th with 3,322 passing yards. Over 16 games, he tossed 24 touchdown passes and seven interceptions.<\/span><\/p>\n Rodgers dealt\u00a0<\/a>with a reported<\/span> small fracture in his left (non-throwing) wrist that he suffered in Week 11 of this season.\u00a0Meanwhile, Howard\u00a0<\/span>suffered a hand injury<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>during training camp last summer and ultimately took zero<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>meaningful in-game snaps as a rookie.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Rodgers had<\/span><\/a> McCarthy as a head coach with the Green Bay Packers<\/span><\/a> from 2006 through much of the 2018 season.\u00a0It’s no secret that\u00a0<\/span><\/span>McCarthy<\/span><\/span><\/a> and multiple Pittsburgh players want Rodgers<\/a> to run it back with the Steelers for at least one more campaign. Steelers legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer\u00a0<\/span>Terry Bradshaw recently\u00a0<\/span>shared<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>that he had heard Rodgers previously said he plans to be Pittsburgh’s QB1 this coming fall. Tannenbaum is not a fan of that plan as it pertains to the Steelers’ best interests.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Rodgers is really a bridge quarterback,” Tannenbaum continued, “and if you’re in year one with Mike McCarthy, start fresh and bring in competition with Will Howard.”<\/p>\n Barring a surprising development, those running the Steelers will likely ignore Tannenbaum’s advice unless Rodgers rides off into the sunset of retirement or signs elsewhere as a free agent.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nSteelers should “clearly” make this Aaron Rodgers decision?<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Should Steelers “start fresh” without Aaron Rodgers?\u00a0<\/h2>\n