Steelers Players React to Aaron Rodgers' Return: 'I Was a Little Shocked'

After signing his new contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Aaron Rodgers put his pads and jersey on and practiced. 

The 42-year-old was among the first people to arrive for the first day of the Steelers' voluntary OTA workouts.

"I was walking in, and he was coming out, and it was good to see him," Payton Wilson said, via ESPN. "I was a little shocked, definitely."

Rodgers' new contract with the Steelers is worth between $22 million and $23 million. His total earnings can hit $25 million depending on whether he hits all of his incentives.

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.

The Steelers won the AFC North last season but lost to the Houston Texans in the wild-card round of the 2026 playoffs at home. Mike Tomlin stepped down as head coach and Rodgers' former coach, Mike McCarthy, was hired. 

"Even in the first day, he made a couple of great throws, and I was like, wow, I'm really playing with Aaron," new WR Michael Pittman said. "It's great. I mean, I get to play with another Hall of Fame quarterback because I got to play with Philip Rivers. I'm going to say he's going to make it. So this is my second."

McCarthy and Rodgers won Super Bowl XLV against the Steelers as members of the Green Bay Packers. The duo will now try to win one as members of Pittsburgh. 

A four-time MVP and future Hall of Famer, Rodgers has played for the Packers, New York Jets and Steelers. He has 527 career passing touchdowns and 66,274 career passing yards.

In Year 1 of the McCarthy era, the Steelers will face the Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, Browns, Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans and Ravens. 

It's a good thing that Rodgers is back because if the NFL legend retired or signed with another team, the Steelers would have been left with Drew Allar, Will Howard and Mason Rudolph.

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