Credit: Jack Thomas/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Aaron Rodgers is back
- The veteran QB will return to the Steelers
- Rodgers, 42, will be reunited with head coach Mike McCarthy, whom he played for in Green Bay
Aaron Rodgers is back for another season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The future Hall of Fame quarterback, 42, has agreed to re-sign with the team for his 22nd season, according to multiple reports.
The one-year deal pays Rodgers somewhere between $22 million and $23 million in base salary, with incentives up to $25 million, according to ESPN.
Early on Monday, May 18, the veteran signal-caller was seen at the Steelers’ facility. He is expected to be on the field for the team’s OTAs later in the morning, ESPN’s Brooke Pryor reported.
Credit: Dylan Buell/Getty
Buzz about Rodgers’ football future had been building all offseason, with the Steelers noting in late April they had “not received word” as to whether he would re-sign. Team officials initially said “there is no expectation of a final decision” before the start of the 2026 NFL Draft, which ran from April 23 to April 25 in Pittsburgh.
As the team awaited word, they made alternate plans for the start of their voluntary minicamp, which was on Monday, April 20. Quarterback Will Howard, a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, was tapped as QB1.
The deal reunites Rodgers with his former coach, Mike McCarthy. The former Packers coach, who worked with Rodgers in Green Bay for 13 seasons, was hired by the Steelers this offseason after longtime coach Mike Tomlin stepped down following 19 years at the helm.
For Rodgers, returning for another season was not always in the cards.
The veteran signal-caller’s 21st NFL season came to an end after the Steelers were throttled by the Houston Texans in the wild-card round of the playoffs, 30-6.
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Mired by the Texans’ smothering defense, Rodgers completed 17-of-33 passes for 146 yards, with no touchdowns, one interception and two fumbles.
After the game on Jan. 12, Rodgers showed his frustration — and shared his support for Tomlin, who parted ways with the franchise a day later.
“I’ve talked extensively about how I feel about Mike,” Rodgers said. “And I just did in that f—in’ answer. Thanks.”
Nearly a year ago, Rodgers told Pat McAfee that he was thinking that 2025 would be his final year in the league.
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure this is it,” Rodgers told McAfee. “That’s why we just did a one-year deal. Steelers didn’t need to put any extra years on that or anything, so this was really about finishing with a lot of love and fun and peace for the career that I’ve had.”
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