The Pittsburgh Steelers might be getting the (Green Bay Packers) band back together for the 2026 NFL season.
The Steelers recently hired former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy. As it stands right now, there’s an apparent vacancy at quarterback with Aaron Rodgers‘ future up in the air. Given how things ended for him and McCarthy in Green Bay, there was certainly no guarantee the 41-year-old would return to the Steelers in 2026.
Aaron Rodgers Leaning Toward Steelers Return for 2026 Season?
However, NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reported on Feb. 8 that Rodgers is leaning toward returning to Pittsburgh after his first (and so far, only) season in the Steel City.
“Rodgers has not yet informed the Steelers whether he’ll return for a 22nd NFL season, but my understanding is the odds are increasing,” Pelissero said on NFL Network. “I’m told Rodgers has spoken several times with new Steelers coach Mike McCarthy, who, of course, helped Rodgers develop into a four-time MVP and Super Bowl winner in Green Bay.”
After two nightmare years with the Jets, Rodgers had a fine bounce-back season in 2025, especially considering his age. Rodgers completed 65% of his passes, throwing for more than 3,300 yards to go along with 24 touchdowns and just seven interceptions.
His favorite target, DK Metcalf, is lobbying the four-time MVP to return, too.
“Rodgers also spoke with receiver DK Metcalf, who wants Rodgers back at age 42,” Pelissero added. “The plan is for Rodgers to take a little more time and everyone hopes comes to a decision prior to the start of free agency in mid-March. … If he’s going to come back, they need to work out a contract, but at this point, it would not be a surprise if Rodgers is back in Pittsburgh.”
Rodgers, McCarthy Have Made Up After Messy Green Bay Divorce
If Rodgers does return to play for McCarthy once again, there will be no shortage of discussion about their relationship. The Packers fired McCarthy in 2018 after a wildly successful run, and there were reports that the QB and coach butted heads.
However, as far back as 2022, Rodgers admitted he and McCarthy were on the mend.
“I think as time goes by, the gratitude for that time as you look back on the journey of your career goes up a little bit. … I’m thankful for those years and thankful maybe a little bit more now as the years go by.”
Ian O’Connor, who wrote the definitive Rodgers biography to this point, spoke about a possible reunion with Colin Cowherd in January. He told Cowherd that the Rodgers-McCarthy relationship is “better now than it ever was in Green Bay,” per SteelersDepot.
That might be the case, but it probably helps that they haven’t had to work together for nearly eight years. If Rodgers returns to Pittsburgh, it will be fascinating to see whether the stresses of the NFL test the growth in that relationship between the two.
The Steelers could probably afford to take that risk. They don’t have a lot of other great options at quarterback, as Mason Rudolph is the only other real option on the Steelers depth chart. The Steelers have the 21st pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, so it’s unlikely they find the next franchise QB this year. Bringing back Rodgers as a placeholder in what could be his final NFL season might be the best possible outcome.
NFL Insider Shares Major Aaron Rodgers Update for 2026 Season