When Mike Tomlin stepped down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, it appeared to mark the end of Aaron Rodgers’ tenure with the team. That may not necessarily be the case after the team has hired a new head coach.
According to multiple NFL insiders, the door is “wide open” for Rodgers to make his return to the Steelers. Veteran reporter Judy Battista said that the team has not given the quarterback a timeline to make a decision. She indicated that it could happen in the spring.
Insider Tom Pelissero also noted that the “odds are increasing” that Rodgers returns to the Steelers for his second season. Additionally, the quarterback has spoken multiple times to head coach Mike McCarthy, who landed the job in late January, as well as wide receiver DK Metcalf.
Rodgers, who won a Super Bowl with McCarthy and the Green Bay Packers, joined the Pittsburgh Steelers ahead of this season.
The four-time league MVP started 16 regular-season games, and he threw for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He completed 65.7% of his throws, his best rate since the 2021 season when the Packers went 13-4.
The Steelers went 10-7, 10-6 with Rodgers under center. The team won the AFC North and hosted a playoff game against the Texans but ultimately lost 30-6. He threw one interception and lost a fumble during the loss.
McCarthy faced questions about the quarterback position when he took the job in Pittsburgh. He provided a straightforward answer while saying that he would be open to a reunion.
“Definitely. I don’t see why you wouldn’t,” McCarthy said. “I just think just like anything, knowing Aaron long enough, going through seasons. … I think when players … when guys are up at that stage of their career, they need to step away and decompress. I think that’s very important.
“The game is so emotional. What these men commit to, what they put into it. I think that time away is important. I have spoken to Aaron, so that’s really where we are there. But I was able to sit back and watch the games and watch most of the Pittsburgh games on TV, and I thought he was a great asset for the team.”
Of course, a reunion would require some work. Rodgers only signed a one-year, $13,650,000 contract to join the Steelers. He is a free agent at the start of the new league year.