Could the 2026 season be bad for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Year 1 of the Mike McCarthy era?
After the Pittsburgh Steelers lost to the Houston Texans in the wild-card round of the 2026 playoffs, Mike Tomlin stepped down as head coach and was replaced by former Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy.
The biggest question remaining with the Steelers is the status of QB Aaron Rodgers. If Rodgers doesn't come back or returns and plays average, that's a nightmare scenario for Pittsburgh, according to NFL analyst Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report.
"Aaron Rodgers either backs out between now and the season, or he returns and puts together another 'meh' campaign that prevents Pittsburgh from being a real Super Bowl threat," Gagnon wrote.
The Steelers placed the UFA tender on Rodgers per ESPN. If Rodgers, who is an unrestricted free agent, does not sign with another team before then, he would only be permitted to sign with the Steelers.
The tender carries a 10% raise from last year's salary, which would pay Rodgers about $15 million for the 2026 season.
One of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, Rodgers finished with 3,322 passing yards, 24 passing touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2025. He completed 65.7% of his passes.
McCarthy and Rodgers won Super Bowl XLV against the Steelers as members of the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers told Pat McAfee a couple of months ago that he's open to playing for McCarthy again.
"I love Mike, and Mike and I have kept in contact over the years," Rodgers said. "I've had conversations with Omar. I think Omar enjoyed having me there. I think the guys had a positive response to our time together. But again, there hasn't been any deadline set on me, there hasn't been any contract floated in front of me for me to, like, 'Well, we're giving you to March 8 to make a decision on this contract.' There's been nothing to that respect. … Interested in what the conversations will be, but there hasn't been any progression when it comes to that."
It will be intriguing to see if Rodgers plays another season in the NFL. The four-time MVP and future Hall of Famer has 527 passing touchdowns and 66,274 passing yards with the Packers, New York Jets and Steelers.
McCarthy, for the record, wants Rodgers to come back.
"Yes, it would be a great story," McCarthy said, via ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "I don't know -- and I would love to tell everybody with breaking news. But, you know, it's really cool to see Aaron at 42. To see a young man at 22 and all of what he's been able to accomplish and where he's at in his personal life, and trying to make this decision. He's in a really good place."
The Steelers drafted Drew Allar out of Penn State in the 2026 NFL Draft. They also have Mason Rudolph and Will Howard on the roster.
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