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Aaron Rodgers could depart Steelers for surprise NFL team
The Pittsburgh Steelers may have to find a new quarterback in 2026.
Pittsburgh signed Aaron Rodgers to a one-year deal last season, and he helped the Steelers win the AFC North and make the playoffs. Yet, the Steelers could look to move on from the future Hall of Famer and sign or draft another option.
However, Rodgers could also decide to play elsewhere, and NFL insider Dan Graziano of ESPN believes the Minnesota Vikings will pursue the former Steelers quarterback.
“Bringing in a veteran quarterback who has had some success in the league could be what the Vikings need to get McCarthy’s attention,” Graziano wrote. “It would remind him about the parts of his game he still needs to work on and get him back on track to where Minnesota can hopefully harness his talent and build him into the franchise QB it thought he was when it drafted him.
“If the Vikings don’t land that type of QB, they’d probably pivot to the older free agents in that group, such as Joe Flacco, former Viking Kirk Cousins and, yes, Aaron Rodgers, whom they discussed bringing in last offseason before deciding against it.”
Minnesota tried to land Rodgers last season, and now the team could pursue him again. Rodgers could serve as a one-year stopgap as the starter and help develop McCarthy, who has struggled to begin his NFL career.
Rodgers threw for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions with the Steelers last season.
Steelers GM Makes Feelings Clear on Rodgers
Pittsburgh has a major question at quarterback this offseason.
The Steelers signed Rodgers to a one-year deal, and the future Hall of Famer thought this could be his final season. Yet, he played well and could return for another season, and Steelers’ general manager Omar Khan said the door is open for Rodgers to return in 2026.
“He knows how we feel about him, and right now we’re proceeding. He’s a free agent, and he’s not on the roster, but he knows how we feel about him,” Khan said.
NFL insider Tom Pelissero has said Rodgers is open to a return, but a decision is expected much quicker this offseason. The new league year begins on March 11, and Khan said he wants an idea by then on Rodgers’ future.
“I don’t really want to say it has to be done by then,” Khan said when asked about March 11 as a potential deadline. “We’d like to have an idea, but it isn’t going to go like it did last year.”
If the Steelers don’t bring back Rodgers, Will Howard could be an intriguing option to start for Pittsburgh in 2026.
Pittsburgh Linked to Surprising QB Option
If Rodgers does leave this offseason, the Steelers could look to land an intriguing option at quarterback.
Garrett Podell of CBS Sports linked the Steelers to adding Daniel Jones if Rodgers does retire or play elsewhere.
“Jones was playing like an early-season NFL MVP candidate for the Indianapolis Colts before a fibula injury transformed into a torn Achilles injury in Week 14,” Podell wrote. “Jones produced career-highs in completion percentage (68%), passing yards per game (238.5) and yards per pass attempt (8.1) in his lone season starting for the Colts.
“… If Jones can stay healthy, he showed enough to indicate that he can be Indianapolis’ long-term starter under head coach Shane Steichen.”
Ultimately, it does appear the Steelers will add at least a veteran quarterback this offseason, whether that’s Rodgers or someone else.