Aaron Rodgers’ retirement decision outlined as Steelers locker room make preference clear on QB replacement
Mike McCarthy is potentially renewing his Super Bowl-winning partnership with Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh.
Aaron Rodgers is ready to run it back with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The veteran quarterback, 42, was subject to retirement speculation throughout the 2025 season.
The Steelers expect Rodgers to return in 2026
When the Steelers crashed out of the playoffs with a wimper in the wild-card round, Rodgers was noncommittal about his future.
Soon later, Mike Tomlin departed after 19 seasons at the helm in the Steel City, and NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported the veteran signal caller was not expected to return.
But the arrival of Mike McCarthy might well have turned the tide.
McCarthy, who worked alongside Rodgers for 13 seasons at the Green Bay Packers, was announced as Tomlin’s successor in an emotional press conference last week.
As a QB-head coach duo in Wisconsin, the pair won Super Bowl XLV together and Rodgers also scooped the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award twice.
Now reunited in Pittsburgh, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly believes Rodgers has one more season in him, and that the organization expects him to return in 2026.
Aaron Rodgers ‘wants to play’ one more season
“I think he will be their starting quarterback unless he comes to some kind of decision over the next month that he’s just done with football, 100 percent,” Kaboly said during an appearance on 93.7 The Fan.
“This is him basically saying he’s coming back without him admitting he’s coming back.
“What I’ve heard a lot is they’re expecting him to come back. They are under the impression that he still wants to play.”
If Rodgers does indeed return, Steelers fans will expect the team to hit the ground running under McCarthy, and make the playoffs once more.
Rodgers is expected to stick around for McCarthy’s first season with the Steelers
The veteran went 10-6 under center in 2025, and while he probably offers them the best chance of another postseason, it appears Pittsburgh’s locker room is ready for a change.
Speaking on during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah revealed that many Steelers players are ‘supportive’ of Will Howard taking the offensive reins in 2026.
Steelers locker room ready for Aaron Rodgers replacement
Howard — a national champion with the Ohio State Buckeyes — arrived as a sixth-round pick of last year’s draft.
The 24-year-old spent his rookie season learning behind Rodgers and backup Mason Rudolph, but did not see the field for a single snap.
Rodgers took 95 percent of the offensive snaps, while Rudolph had the other 5 percent.
Despite that, Jeremiah believes the locker room is high on Howard, who could get his opportunity in 2026.
The Steelers locker room is said to be high on rookie Howard
“There is some love and support in that building for Will Howard,” the NFL Network analyst said.
“Not just amongst guys who have been there from a coaching standpoint, but from a player standpoint.
“There’s a lot of guys on that team that like him. The guy won a national championship.
“He’s big, he’s strong, he can move around a little bit. He is someone that I think they would at least like to see what they have there.”
If Rodgers does return as expected, Howard might find his path to the field blocked once again.
But with the locker room on side, he will likely be able to battle for that backup spot, and put himself in a position to start once the veteran does eventually depart.
Tom Brady was a sixth-round pick who started his sophomore season on the bench and it didn’t work out too badly for him.
