The Pittsburgh Steelers opened voluntary workouts on Tuesday, April 7, under new head coach Mike McCarthy.
The team still doesn’t know if 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers plans to return for the 2026 season. The four-time NFL MVP led the Steelers to a 10-7 record and an AFC North title last season while playing under a one-year contract.
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During the annual meeting last week, Steelers owner and team president Art Rooney II said he expects a decision from Rodgers by the NFL draft, which begins April 23 in Pittsburgh.
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One former Steeler, retired cornerback Joe Haden, said he doubts Rodgers is worried about making a decision before the draft.
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“You’re not forcing me to tell you what I want to do,” Haden said of Rodgers. “You can expect the answer as much as you want. But that’s A-Rod. We know how he moves. … He don’t gotta answer you.'”
Haden made his comments on the “Deebo and Joe” podcast with former Steelers teammate James Harrison.
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Haden offered Rooney and the Steelers front office a piece of advice for how to get Rodgers moving.
“The Steelers haven’t offered him nothing, so he doesn’t have anything to turn down,” Haden said. “Steelers, if you want to get an answer, throw that man a deal, throw him an offer.
“Now you can say, ‘Something’s on the table. We’ve sent something out to A-Rod. Now it’s up to him to give us an answer before the draft.’ ‘Cause I’m like, time’s a tickin’.”
Rodgers signed a one-year, $13.65 million contract before the 2025 campaign. He completed 65.7 percent of his passes for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
The Steelers advanced to the playoffs but fell 30-6 in the wild-card round to the Houston Texans.
If Rodgers elects not to play in his 22nd season, the Steelers have veteran Mason Rudolph and second-year pro Will Howard in their quarterback room.
McCarthy, who won a Super Bowl with Rodgers when he coached the Green Bay Packers, is in communication with the signal-caller. “I’m not going to really get into timelines,” McCarthy told ESPN. “Talked to him last night. So I mean, so we’re in a good space and we’ll just continue to work through it.”