Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during a game against the Baltimore Ravens on Jan. 4, 2026,. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
CBS Sports’ John Breech tabbed the Arizona Cardinals as a possible landing spot for four-time NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Cardinals new offensive coordinator is Nathaniel Hackett, who has a long history with Rodgers. Hackett was Rodgers’ OC in Green Bay when he was named NFL MVP in 2020 and 2021. He also was Rodgers OC with the Jets in 2023-24.
The Cardinals also have a slew of playmakers in All-Pro tight end Trey McBride, wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson and Kendrick Bourne, and running backs Jeremiyah Love, Tyler Allgeier and James Conner.
The Cardinals went 3-14 last season, but the young talent coupled with Hackett at OC could intrigue Rodgers. Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew and Carson Beck are the current Cardinals’ quarterbacks.
“At this point, their QB situation is still up in the air. Going into April, Jacoby Brissett appeared to have the inside track, but he’s skipping the team’s voluntary workouts because he wants to be paid like a starter. Instead of giving Brissett more money, the Cardinals could simply call Rodgers and offer that money to him,” Breech wrote. “…Now, here’s where things get even more interesting. The Cardinals just hired a new offensive coordinator this year in Nathaniel Hackett, who just happens to be best friends with Rodgers. … This team had the talent to compete; they just couldn’t get over the hump last year. If the Cardinals were to give Rodgers a call, you’d have to think that he would listen.”
quarterback Aaron Rodgers during a game against the Baltimore Ravens on Jan. 4, 2026. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The Steelers placed the seldomly-used UFA tender on Rodgers this past Wednesday.
“This is all a part of the process that we’ve discussed all along. We are consistently in communication. He’s where he should be right now. He’s taking the time personally to accomplish some of things in his personal life. I’m sure he and I will talk in the near future,” Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy told Adam Schein of Mad Dog Sports Radio. “And really the business transaction was definitely there was some communication beforehand and it’s something that just puts us in position to be smart business wise. To potentially have a comp pick if things go that way.”
The Steelers offered Rodgers a one-year deal at a 10% raise from his previous salary, which would be just over $15 million. He can sign that contract whenever, or the two sides can iron out another agreement. Rodgers can still speak with other teams until July 22 or the start of Steelers training camp — whichever comes first.
If Rodgers leaves, he would count toward the compensatory pick formula.
NFL insider Tom Pelissero explained on “The Rich Eisen Show” what could happen if Rodgers left the Steelers scrambling for another quarterback option at the last second.
“(He’s) talking to them regularly about what they’re gonna do on the field and in the offense, which certainly suggests Aaron Rodgers intends to show up, but he hasn’t actually said, ‘Hey, it’s done. Call my agent, do a contract,’” Pelissero said on Friday. “There’s always that possibility. Freak things happen. OTAs, minicamp, somebody breaks a bone, somebody tears their ACL, and all of a sudden it’s, ‘Hey, Aaron, we could use on this contender as opposed to a Steelers team that hopes to be a contender.”
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