Overview
- Rodgers says he had been ready to walk away from football but changed his mind after the Steelers hired Mike McCarthy, calling the move a chance for a “full circle” reunion.
- He told SiriusXM that his 2025 season in Pittsburgh under Mike Tomlin rekindled his passion after injury and rehab, and that those gains made a final year appealing.
- Rodgers signed a one-year contract with the Steelers on May 16 that multiple outlets report is worth up to $25 million, though the team has not publicly released full salary details.
- The decision leaves open practical questions for the Steelers about how many preseason snaps Rodgers will take and how the team will balance his live preparation with backup development and injury risk for a 42-year-old starter.
- McCarthy called the reunion “pure joy,” Rodgers has stated that 2026 will be his final NFL season, and his choice affects his plans to start a family and the Steelers’ short-term title window built around a veteran quarterback-coach pairing.