Aaron Rodgers has the Pittsburgh Steelers waiting again, but this offseason feels different from the last. In 2025, the Steelers went through free agency and the draft before finally getting a decision from Rodgers just before the start of the summer.
Now, the quarterback has a season of Pittsburgh living under his belt. Although the coach he originally came to play for is gone, he’s familiar with Mike McCarthy, who has spoken plenty of times about his interest in bringing Rodgers back. To former Steelers tight end Eric Ebron, Rodgers is more likely to return than anything else.
“I think that he’s gonna come back. Think about it. His coach, they’re adding weapons. They’re trying to do things around that organization for him,” Ebron said on his On My Soul podcast. “I do think he comes back, brother. Who else? You gonna draft a quarterback and start him in Pittsburgh right now? It’s not happening.”
Ebron’s co-host, Jaylen Samuels, who played with Ebron as a Steeler during the 2020 season, agreed that Aaron Rodgers will return.
“I agree. He probably just thinking about it, taking a little bit more time. But he, for sure, probably, re-sign with the Steelers, try to at least give it one more run. I’d say. Especially with a new, fresh start, a new coach,” Samuels said.
Ebron mentions the Steelers making some moves that might help bring Rodgers back. While that might not have been the Steelers’ actual intentions, some of their acquisitions do make sense in that regard. They got a WR2 in Michael Pittman Jr., one who has plenty of NFL experience and understands how to get open quickly. Given Rodgers’ preference for veteran receivers at the end of last season, plus his desire to get rid of the ball quickly, Pittman certainly feels like a good fit.
The ball has been in Rodgers’ court all offseason, as the Steelers don’t have many options outside of him. They declined to pursue any candidates at the start of the league year, with Kyler Murray, Malik Willis and Tua Tagovailoa all finding new homes. The Steelers could take Ty Simpson in the draft, but there’s plenty of risk involved. And the same could be said about Will Howard, who some believe is the backup plan if Rodgers doesn’t return.
It still feels more likely that Rodgers will be back in Pittsburgh, though. Ebron and Samuels agree with that. As for when that answer will come? Knowing Aaron Rodgers, it could take a while.
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