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Aaron Rodgers ultimately did not return to Pittsburgh.
After reports surfaced last Friday that Rodgers was scheduled to visit the Pittsburgh Steelers with an eye toward a return to the team he played for last year, many were hoping the months of waiting were over.
However, during his appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on ESPN this Monday, Adam Schefter said neither the Steelers nor his agent were aware such a meeting was planned.
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Aaron Rodgers of the Pittsburgh Steelers stands during the national anthem before an NFL game against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 4, 2026. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
But then there were reports about Rodgers’ situation around the world, with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reporting that he was in the Steel City, even though he wasn’t scheduled to visit the team. A report from 93.7 The Fan added, saying he was in town to play golf.
Regardless, the decision remains whether Rodgers will be a good fit for the Steelers, but the storied franchise has given itself some assurance if the four-time MVP quarterback decides he potentially wants to play elsewhere.
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The Steelers used an unrestricted free agent tender on Rodgers last month, which allows Pittsburgh the right to match any offer Rodgers might receive from another team.
Despite doubts from some camps about Rodgers’ potential return, Schefter expressed his belief that he will be on the Steelers’ depth chart in training camp. The Steelers are scheduled to begin their OTAs next Monday.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers drops back to pass against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 4, 2026. (GETTY)
With Rodgers at the helm last season, the Steelers went 10-7, even earning a playoff berth after Baltimore Ravens rookie Tyler Loop’s now-infamous game-winning field goal went through the uprights. The Steelers ended up losing to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round, extending the team’s winless streak in the playoffs to eight straight seasons, including three consecutive campaigns.
Rodgers, who is expected to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame once he decides to end his career, threw for 3,322 yards with 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 16 games for Pittsburgh in 2025.
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The Steelers also reorganized their team for this season, as Mike McCarthy, Rodgers’ former head coach with the Green Bay Packers, succeeds Mike Tomlin, whose generational run in Pittsburgh ended after 19 seasons (2007-25). While DK Metcalf and Rodgers built chemistry last season, the Steelers also added veteran wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. in a deal with the Indianapolis Colts, while also adding Alabama’s Germie Bernard in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks on after being sacked during the first half of the NFL Wild Card game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 12, 2026. (Michael Longo/For USA Today Network-PA / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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And while Kenneth Gainwell left after a strong performance with Pittsburgh, Rico Dowdle comes into the fold to work alongside Jaylen Warren at running back.
Yet football’s biggest question remains: Will Rodgers be one of these new-look Steelers in 2026?
