Aaron Rodgers said everything but his 2026 intentions on The Pat McAfee Show this week, including that no offer is on the table yet from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ian Rapoport suggested Friday that the Steelers won’t make an offer until they know he will accept it.
What does that even mean? For one, that probably hints at what the contract value will be if he eventually signs.
“My guess is he probably knows what the offer would be, right?” Rapoport said on The Dan Patrick Show. “Was it $20 [million] last year? Whatever it was, my guess is it’s similar. So whether it’s been offered or not, he probably knows what it is. It’s just a matter of him saying, ‘Do I wanna play or not?'”
The fact that they haven’t discussed contract terms strongly hints that it will be more or less the same deal as last year. Rodgers signed a one-year, $13.65 million contract worth as much as $19.5 million with incentives after he said flat out that it wasn’t about the money. Why would that change entering Season 22?
Rodgers hinted that he’s been hitting the weight room hard, and while he credited that for marital reasons, it’s reasonable to assume he still intends on playing. Rapoport doubled down that he will make his decision by the start of free agency. But either way, it seems like Steelers or bust for Rodgers in 2026.
“My sense is it’s Steelers or no one. It’s just on him to sort of make a decision and let us all know,” Rapoport said. [The Vikings] had a chance last year and didn’t do it. I’d be surprised if they did it this year with the same exact opportunity presented.”
For someone whose mind is not made up, Rodgers sure spent a lot of time on McAfee’s show talking up Mike McCarthy and downplaying any previous issues the two had during their time in Green Bay.
Will it be over the next few days before free agency? Or are we headed toward another excruciating media cycle that drags into late spring? Based on Rodgers’ demeanor during The Pat McAfee Show, my bet is on the latter.
Recommended for you