Aaron Rodgers sounds exceedingly open to a reunion with Mike McCarthy, but the Pittsburgh Steelers have not given him a contract offer or a deadline to decide his status for 2026.
An unrestricted free agent at age 42, Rodgers told “The Pat McAfee Show” on Wednesday he isn’t ready to make any grand declarations before he’s able to talk to every NFL team on March 9. That’s the date unrestricted free agents are permitted by the league to have contact with a team to discuss contract terms. They can sign beginning March 11, the start of the new league year.
“There’s no contract offer or anything, so there’s nothing that I’m having to debate between,” Rodgers said about playing a second season in Pittsburgh. “I’m a free agent. I’m enjoying my time with my wife and enjoying this part of the offseason. I think there’s conversations to be had down the line, but right now there hasn’t been any progressive conversations.
“There hasn’t been any deadline set on me. There hasn’t been any contract floated in front of me. … Interested in what the conversations will be but there hasn’t been any progression when it comes to that.”
Rodgers threw 24 touchdown passes and seven interceptions last season, guiding the Steelers to the AFC North division title and a playoff berth.
Steelers general manager Omar Khan said last week the franchise would not be on hold for months waiting for Rodgers to determine if — and where — he wants to play a 22nd NFL season. Rodgers did not sign with the Steelers last spring as expected, and an official one-year deal waited for his signature until June 5. Almost three weeks later, he declared, “I’m pretty sure this is it” regarding the 2025 season being his last.
The four-time MVP “knows where we stand” according to Khan, who hired McCarthy to replace Mike Tomlin at the end of the 2025 season. McCarthy coached Rodgers in Green Bay and has been in contact with him about playing in 2026. For each of McCarthy’s 13 seasons with the Packers, his starter was Rodgers.
“Mike’s one of the great guys in the league,” Rodgers said. “Just an absolutely exceptional human being with a huge heart. We had a lot of great years together, a lot of fun. He really cares about the players. But he also holds guys accountable and creates a lot of structure and details in the process. I loved my time with Mike. Obviously, there are times where like a big brother, sometimes you love him, sometimes you’re pissed at him. But deep down, there’s so much love for Mike and appreciation for the time we spent together.”
As for training and any plans for preparation for the 2026 season, Rodgers isn’t playing those cards just yet. He told McAfee he’s staying in shape for, well, marital reasons.
–Field Level Media
