The Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly waiting for an answer on whether quarterback Aaron Rodgers will play in the 2026 NFL season. It doesn’t appear that waiting will end anytime soon.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Brian Batko argued Friday that Rodgers may make his 2026 decision before the 2026 NFL Draft. Of course, the optimal word in that sentence was “may.”
“I think we’ll get a decision before then. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking on my part,” Batko said on The North Shore Drive podcast, via Steelers Depot’s Jake Brockhoff. “I’ll go ahead and say yes. [But] I don’t feel great about it.
“The conversations at this point last year were probably more about selling Aaron on the Steelers, or quote unquote, recruiting him.
“I just would venture to guess that this year, the conversations are not like that … it’s probably a lot more casual and easy going.”
But even if Rodgers’s decision does come before the 2026 NFL Draft, that’s another month away. That means there could be another few weeks of quarterback uncertainty with free agency continuing for the Steelers and the rest of the NFL.
It’s also hardly a guarantee Rodgers does have a decision by the draft. Last year, he didn’t sign with Pittsburgh until June 5.
Will Steelers Know Aaron Rodgers’s 2026 Plan by NFL Draft?
For the second straight offseason, there’s a lot of unknowns when it comes to the Steelers and Rodgers. But pundits agree that the earlier the quarterback makes his 2026 intentions clear, the better for the Steelers.
On the same podcast a few weeks ago, though, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ray Fittipaldo said the Steelers don’t even know which way Rodgers is leaning on 2026.
Regardless of who casual the negotiations are, that makes things difficult for Pittsburgh.
“That doesn’t make it any easier for the Steelers to operate without having a 100 percent, yes or no, in or out from him,” said Batko.
It’s possible that the Steelers want to look at the 2026 NFL Draft if Rodgers doesn’t return. Should that be the case, it’s essential the team hears from the quarterback before the first round on April 23.
Rodgers’s Decision Coming Down to Money?
Former Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch had his own theory about why Rodgers is dragging his feet to re-sign in Pittsburgh — money. Batch offered that theory to his podcast listeners this past week.
“This is a guy who outplayed his contract,” said Batch, via Steelers Depot’s Troy Montgomery.
“This decision is coming down to money. The Steelers would like him to come back, yes, but it’s not going to be at the $13 million number. I’m sure Aaron, at some point, and I have not spoken to him, but I’m sure his representatives are wanting something closer to $30 [million].”
It’s important to note that Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio “guessed’ last year that Rodgers wanted a 2-year, $90 million contract. That speculated projection, though, was off by a significant amount. Rodgers signed an incentive-based deal, which strongly indicated his prolonged free agency was tied to something else besides money.
That doesn’t mean money isn’t a factor this time around. In 2025, Rodgers stressed during interviews on The Pat McAfee Show that money didn’t impact his decision.
During his March 4 interview on the same show, Rodgers made no mention whether or not money was a factor in his 2026 decision.
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