The Pittsburgh Steelers' hiring of Mike McCarthy as their next head coach could change Aaron Rodgers' plans.
The Pittsburgh Steelers hired Mike McCarthy to replace Mike Tomlin as their head coach. Tomlin stepped down at the end of the season after 19 seasons with the franchise.
McCarthy now takes over and comes with a wealth of experience. He was the head coach of the Green Bay Packers for 13 years, from 2006 to 2018, and of the Dallas Cowboys for five years, from 2020 to 2024.
With their new head coach in place, the next biggest question for the Steelers is who will be the starting quarterback?
Pittsburgh currently has Mason Rudolph and Will Howard as their two quarterbacks under contract for the 2026 season. However, the hiring of McCarthy opens the possibility that Aaron Rodgers could return.
Rodgers was the Steelers' starting quarterback in 2025, completing 65.7 percent of his passes for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
Despite being 42 years old, he is still a productive quarterback, as he led Pittsburgh to the AFC North title and into the postseason. After Tomlin stepped down, it was unlikely that Rodgers was going to return to the Steelers.
His familiarity with McCarthy could change that, as they spent many years together in Green Bay, including a Super Bowl victory over the Steelers in the 2010 season.
Michael Longo/For USA Today Network-PA / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesRodgers is by far Pittsburgh's best option at quarterback for the upcoming season, and buys them another year to figure out who can be the long-term answer.
To compete for a playoff spot and the division title, the Steelers will need a competent quarterback like Rodgers under center.
The four-time MVP already knows McCarthy's system and has chemistry with the team's weapons, like wide receiver DK Metcalf.
However, the hiring of McCarthy might not lead Rodgers to play another season, and he could call it a career. His legacy is already in place as one of the best quarterbacks of all time and a future Hall of Famer.
He is still playing well enough to be the clear top option for the Steelers for 2026, but it will come down to whether Rodgers wants to return and reunite with his former head coach.
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