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The Pittsburgh Steelers are still awaiting Aaron Rodgers’ decision for the 2026 NFL season: Will he play or does retirement finally beckon the four-time MVP?
The Steelers and head coach Mike McCarthy, his former leader from his days with the Green Bay Packers, continue to wait patiently, as does one of the newest in the building: wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr.
“I hope he’s close,” Pittman told PK Press Club Digital in a recent interview ahead of his participation in the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh with Toyota.
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New Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. hopes Aaron Rodgers is “close” to making a decision whether to play in 2026. (Getty Images)
Pittman arrived in Pittsburgh earlier this offseason after the Indianapolis Colts completed a trade with the Steelers to send the seven-year receiver east. As he continues to acclimate, Pittman is already hearing the question: Is Rodgers coming back?
“I don’t know anything – people think we know something. Why would Aaron tell me anything?” he said laughing.
Pittman said he wasn’t “too worried about it” from a personal standpoint, given that his time in Indianapolis was riddled with quarterback turnover. Throughout his tenure with the Colts, Pittman has played for 10 different starting quarterbacks, including Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco and Daniel Jones last season.
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The situation even got so bad in 2025 following Jones’ injury that he reunited with Rivers, who was signed in hopes he could help save the season.
Aaron Rodgers (8) of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium on January 4, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
But while some of these guys will probably make it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame one day, there’s no doubt about Rodgers Canton’s hopes and what he brings to a team, even though he turns 43 in December.
“Obviously Aaron is a great player – look at everything he’s done,” Pittman added. “We would love to have him back. Ultimately, it’s up to him to decide for himself.”
Rodgers may not be participating in the Steelers’ voluntary early offseason program, but he is training to stay in shape for the new season if he decides to return. But there has been radio silence between the two sides, according to NFL Network, and we are not expected to hear from him until the first round of the draft begins Thursday night.
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While Pittman, the Steelers and the rest of the NFL wait for news on Rodgers, Will Howard, the team’s sixth-round pick in last year’s draft, is the expected starting quarterback for McCarthy’s team heading into voluntary workouts.
In the meantime, Pittman will continue to enjoy the sports-crazed city he now calls home.
“Being in Pittsburgh, just the vibe of driving around, everyone’s wearing something sporty. It’s either the Steelers, the Pirates or the Penguins,” Pittman said. “Someone is wearing black and gold, which I think is awesome. They love their football there. I mean, Indy loves football too. I’m not taking anything away from the Indy fans, but it’s just Pittsburgh – everyone knows Pittsburgh for being Pittsburgh. The Steelers, the fans. The city sits on these rivers. The stadium is right there, the scenery. It’s a crazy thing, and I’m excited to be there and be able to play for them. “
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (11) looks on during the NFL football game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 2, 2025 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire)
IMPACTING THE LOCAL FOOTBALL FLAG WITH TOYOTA
Pittman is always looking to make an impact in his community, especially when he’s in a new city. Following his coaching role at Toyota’s Glow Up Classic during Super Bowl week in San Francisco, Pittman is back with the automaker for a special NFL Draft flag football training camp featuring Pittsburgh high school girls flag players on the eve of draft night.
Pittman, alongside some NFL Draft prospects and members of the U.S. Women’s National Flag Football Team, will don her coaching hat to help coordinate drills, while providing instruction and mentoring to the participating girls.
And best of all, some attendees will be chosen to walk the NFL Draft red carpet, as they get the opportunity to experience and see some of the best young football players realize their dream, like Pittman, of hearing their names called in the NFL Draft.
Youth players participate in the Toyota Glow-Up Classic, a glow-in-the-dark flag football exhibition, during the Super Bowl Experience in San Francisco on February 4, 2026. Toyota is providing grants to each young player for their flag football future. (Jeff Lewis/AP Content Services for Toyota Motor North America)
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With new national data from Campus Multimedia and YouGov revealing that 70% of teens (ages 12-17) want brands to support their school community, this is just another example of Toyota’s impact in communities across the country. As the official partner of the NFL FLAG League, which has helped grow the game by reaching more than 300,000 youth players nationwide with more than $3 million in support, Toyota is also purchasing all NFL FLAG kit fall registration fees for current players in the Pittsburgh Flag Football League’s (PFFL) co-ed youth and high school leagues.
“Our main message to these girls is to get their attention, and I know this is all for them,” Pittman said. “We’re just here to energize them and anyway we can stand up for them and lift them up and let them know that we’re here to support the girls flag and we want to make it a renowned sport.”
