Overview
- NFL Network insiders report Rodgers has spoken several times with Mike McCarthy about a 22nd season in Pittsburgh, with the odds of his return described as increasing.
- Rodgers has not made a final decision; the hope is for clarity before the mid-March start of free agency, and a new contract would be needed if he plays.
- Steelers owner Art Rooney II has stressed the need for a McCarthy–Rodgers sit-down and indicated the team expects to know Rodgers’ plans within about a month.
- Contingency plans are in motion, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting the Falcons are expected to release Kirk Cousins in March, positioning him as a potential veteran option.
- The Steelers hold the 21st pick in the 2026 draft and have limited in-house alternatives, which heightens the value of a short-term veteran after Rodgers’ 2025 line of 3,322 yards, 24 TDs and 7 INTs.