While nothing is cemented, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ organization appears interested in an Aaron Rodgers return in 2026. At age 42, Rodgers won’t be a long-term solution at the quarterback but his experience can be a strength. Former Steeler Willie Colon spoke about what he thinks Rodgers brings to the table in terms of leadership and intangibles.
“I think that he just needs more help offensively and I think I like Aaron being on the team because he forced a lot of the young guys to grow up and be more accountable about what they were doing on the field and how to prepare for games,” Colon said in an interview on Scoop B Radio. “Sometimes you need an adult in the room to kind of spank you on the butt to get you in line. And I think that he was that guy for the Steelers.”
Even as the offense largely struggled in 2025, Rodgers was a steadying force. As Colon mentioned, the weapons on offense were lackluster this season and the Steelers turned to veterans Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling down the stretch. Rodgers seemed comfortable with the veteran receivers, who saw increased roles over Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson.
Kenneth Gainwell also had a breakout season working with Rodgers. Kaleb Johnson was taken in the third round of the 2025 draft but saw limited playing time as a rookie, while Rodgers trusted Gainwell’s experience as a receiver and blocker.
Perhaps the most notable example of Rodgers taking a leadership role in Pittsburgh was after the Week 13 loss to the Buffalo Bills when he invited receivers, tight ends, and running backs to his house to watch film and go over the playbook.
Outside of Isaac Seumalo, the Steelers’ offensive line is very young. Troy Fautanu, Zach Frazier and Mason McCormick were all in their second seasons as starters. Broderick Jones played his third NFL season but his as a starting left tackle. Dylan Cook, who eventually took over for Jones after his neck injury, was in his fourth season had zero regular season snaps prior to this year. Rodgers and his 20-plus seasons of NFL experience was a massive influence on the unit.
Improving the offense’s firepower should be a priority this offseason regardless of who the quarterback is. Rodgers’ experience is one of his selling points for a team. Young players like Roman Wilson and Kaleb Johnson may not have received the playing time that they desired in 2025, but learning from Rodgers may be beneficial for their development.
Bringing back Rodgers doesn’t carry much downside if that’s the direction Pittsburgh chooses for 2026. While he might not be the quarterback he used to be, he offers enough as a leader and offensive mind to still be an asset even at his age.