Many thought Aaron Rodgers would be one-and-done with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Instead, the two parties are running it back one more time.
The Steelers are signing Rodgers to a one-year deal for the 2026 NFL season, according to multiple reports. The 42-year-old quarterback’s contract will be worth up to $25 million.
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Rodgers enjoyed a solid first year in Pittsburgh, helping lead the Steelers to an AFC North title and a winning record for a seventh consecutive season.
Now, Rodgers will return to the Steelers in the hopes of leading the franchise to its first playoff win since the 2016 NFL postseason. And he will do so in the company of Mike McCarthy, who is replacing Mike Tomlin and coached Rodgers for 14 of his 18 years with the Green Bay Packers.
What can Steelers fans expect from Rodgers in his 22nd NFL season? Here’s a look back at how he performed in 2025, along with the notable changes Pittsburgh has made to its offense for the upcoming season.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers played football at Pleasant Valley High School in Chico, California from 1998 to 2001. During his junior and senior seasons as starting quarterback, Rodgers amassed 4,419 passing yards while helping the Vikings to a 17-7 mark.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers played football at Pleasant Valley High School in Chico, California from 1998 to 2001. During his junior and senior seasons as starting quarterback, Rodgers amassed 4,419 passing yards while helping the Vikings to a 17-7 mark.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
California Golden Bears quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks to throw against USC at the Los Angeles Coliseum on Oct. 9, 2004.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, drafted 24th overall by the Green Bay Packers, poses with family and friends during the 2005 NFL Draft at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City on April 23, 2005.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers’ first round pick in the 2005 NFL draft, is introduced by GM Ted Thompson on April 24, 2005.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers drops back to pass against the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium on Nov. 29, 2007.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers reacts after he threw a 7-yard touchdown to John Kuhn in the third quarter of the 2010 NFC divisional playoff game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Jan. 15, 2011. Rodgers threw for three touchdowns and ran for a third in the Packers’ 48-21 win.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers pumps his fist in the air celebrating the 2010 NFC championship game victory over the Chicago Bears on Jan. 23, 2011 at Soldier Field.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell presents the Super Bowl MVP trophy to Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers at a news conference on Feb. 7, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. The Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 to win Super Bowl 45.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers celebrates the Super Bowl 45 title with Green Bay Packer fans during a Return to Titletown Celebration on Feb. 8, 2011 at Lambeau Field.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
President Barack Obama receives a jersey from quarterback Aaron Rodgers (L) of the Green Bay Packers during a reception for the National Football League Super Bowl XLV champions on the south lawn of the White House on Aug. 12, 2011 in Washington, D.C. The Packers, lead by head coach Mike McCarthy, finished the 2010 season with a winning record of 10-6, and defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 to win the championship.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers leaves the field following the Green Bay Packers’ 21-13 win against the Houston Texans at Lambeau Field on Dec. 4, 2016.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers looks for an open receiver during the Green Bay Packers’ game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Oct. 8, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. The Packers won the game, 35-31.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers plays during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament at Spyglass Hill Golf Course on Feb. 8, 2018.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Danica Patrick and Aaron Rodgers look on during the fourth quarter of Game 2 of the first round of the 2019 NBA playoffs between the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on April 17, 2019. Rodgers has an ownership stake in the NBA team.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers is shown with back up quarterbacks Tim Boyle (left) and Jordan Love during the team’s training camp in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Aug. 24, 2020.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers served as guest host of “Jeopardy!” for two weeks from April 6-15, 2021.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers celebrates his rushing touchdown during a 24-14 win against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Oct. 17, 2021.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and quarterback Aaron Rodgers stand arm in arm late in the fourth quarter of a 24-10 win against the Washington Football Team on Oct. 24, 2021, at Lambeau Field
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is lifted up by guard Lucas Patrick after breaking Brett Favre’s franchise record for touchdown passes during a Christmas Day 2021 game against the Cleveland Browns.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers walks off the field with teammate Randall Cobb following a season-ending loss to the Detroit Lions on Jan, 8, 2023 at Lambeau Field.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers was traded to the New York Jets prior to the 2023 season after spending the first 18 years of his NFL career with the Green Bay Packers.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is injured after a sack by Buffalo Bills defensive end Leonard Floyd during his first drive with the Jets on Sept. 11, 2023.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Aaron Rodgers looks on from the sideline during the New York Jets’ 30-0 loss against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on Dec. 17, 2023.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) signs a fan’s helmet before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, on Dec. 15, 2024.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) and wide receiver Davante Adams (17) high-five each other as they walks off the field after a 32-25 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, on Dec. 15, 2024.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) throws his 500th career touchdown pass in the second quarter of the game against the Miami Dolphins on Jan. 5, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) celebrates his touchdown pass to New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams (17) (not pictured) during the fourth quarter of their game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Jan. 5, 2025.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
The ball used by New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers for his 500th touchdown pass is seen on the sideline during the second quarter of the Jets game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Jan. 5, 2025.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) walks off the field with wide receiver Davante Adams (17) after a win against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Jan. 5, 2025.
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Revisit Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he announces 22nd season
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers fumbles as he is hit by the Houston Texans’ Will Anderson Jr. The Texans’ Sheldon Rankins (90) returned the fumble for a touchdown as Houston went on to a 30-6 wild-card playoff win at Acrisure Stadium on Jan. 12, 2026.
Aaron Rodgers stats 2025
Rodgers started 16 games for the Steelers in 2025. Below is a full look at the stats he posted across that action.
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The good news for Rodgers? His 65.7% completion rate was his best since his penultimate season with the Packers in 2021. He also took just 29 sacks – his fewest in a full season since 2020 – thanks to his 2.59-second average time to throw, which ranked as the fastest among 33 qualified NFL quarterbacks, per the NFL’s Next Gen Stats.
However, on the other side of the coin, Rodgers ranked just 21st among those 33 qualified quarterbacks in EPA per dropback. His 6.7 yards per attempt ranked 27th while his 6.37-yard average depth of target (ADOT) ranked 42nd among 45 quarterbacks to attempt at least 100 passes last season, per Sumer Sports.
What does that all mean? Rodgers didn’t frequently stretch the field with his throws. He focused more on the quick game, relying on slants, screens and checkdowns to move the ball instead of more explosive chunk plays.
That’s part of the reason Rodgers finished as Pro Football Focus‘ 27th-graded passer among 38 qualified quarterbacks. It also played a part in the Steelers averaging the eighth-fewest yards per game (305.6) during the 2025 season.
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Even so, the Steelers ranked 15th in points per game (23.4) with Rodgers as their primary starter. His efficiency and ability to avoid producing a high volume of significant, negative plays should make him a serviceable game manager for another season.
Rodgers should benefit from having an upgraded receiving corps in 2026 that may be better-suited toward his current skill set. Pittsburgh traded for veteran receiver Michael Pittman Jr. – a sure-handed receiver whose 3 yards of average separation ranked 26th among 77 qualified receivers last season, per the NFL’s Next Gen Stats – to serve as a No. 2 receiver across from DK Metcalf.
The Steelers also selected Germie Bernard – a a productive wide-out from Alabama who has great route-running skills – in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft to provide Rodgers another reliable target.
All that’s to say this if Rodgers can play similarly to last season, he may end up having a more productive season. Nobody will confuse this version of Rodgers with the one who won four NFL MVP awards, but he should give the Steelers a fighting chance of making the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season.
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Aaron Rodgers career stats
Rodgers is currently the active NFL leader in passing yards and passing touchdowns, ranking fifth and fourth all-time respectively in each category. He has the highest passer rating among qualified players too with his mark of 102.2 and lowest career interception rate (1.4%).
Below is a full look at Rodgers’ stats across his two-plus decades of NFL experience.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What Aaron Rodgers’ 2025 stats tell us about his 2026 outlook