Mike McCarthy’s public stance welcoming quarterback Aaron Rodgers back with open arms isn’t just posturing. Per the PPG’s Gerry Dulac, it’s sincere. In a Friday article that offered optimism Rodgers would return, Dulac notes McCarthy is driving the bus down that road.
“New coach Mike McCarthy is quietly doubling down on his stated desire to be reunited with the quarterback who helped him win five division titles and a Super Bowl in 13 seasons in Green Bay, according to team sources,” Dulac wrote for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
During his introductory press conference last month, McCarthy affirmed his desire to bring Rodgers back. Rodgers is still deciding his future but most reporting suggests he will play again in 2026. If so, running it back with Pittsburgh and reuniting with McCarthy makes the most amount of sense.
It’s easy to understand why McCarthy is in favor of Rodgers’ return. The two spent over a decade together in Green Bay where Rodgers won his lone Super Bowl and two of his four MVPs. Failing to re-sign Rodgers could leave McCarthy playing a much worse quarterback hand, at least in the short-term, if he’s forced to pivot to another veteran or in-house option like Mason Rudolph or Will Howard. Perhaps Howard is the future but for an owner in Art Rooney II who wants to win now, Rodgers is the best bet to keep the team’s playoff hopes afloat.
Dulac notes the Steelers don’t believe they’ll have to again wait until June to find out Rodgers’ answer. Though no timetables are set, finality before free agency makes sense for both sides. Dulac also writes Rodgers is likely to return given his good experience with Pittsburgh in 2025. Rodgers played well, largely stayed healthy (fractured wrist aside), and had fun that was absent during his two-year stint in New York.
The unknowns about joining Pittsburgh in 2025 are gone. He knows how the building runs and even with Mike Tomlin stepping down, knows what it’s like to play for McCarthy.
Earlier this week, Dulac offered 52 percent odds that Rodgers would play again. Based on the tone of today’s article, the numbers sound much stronger than that. Rodgers’ biggest cheerleader is his new – and also his old – head coach.
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