The Pittsburgh Steelers made headlines on Tuesday after placing the rare UFA tender on future first-ballot Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers. This does not mean that the 42-year-old quarterback is set to return to the Steelers just yet. Instead, it means that he can accept at 10% raise from what he made last season. So, if he were to return to Pittsburgh for one more season, he would make around $15 million. Furthermore, he can only sign with the Steelers once training camp begins, per the parameters of the tender.
Show host Pat McAfee shared his opinion on Tuesday about the team deciding to tender the four-time MVP and Super Bowl MVP. In fact, he was interested in the rarity of the tender and how it may only complicate the situation between the two parties.
The Pittsburgh Steelers Clearly Want Aaron Rodgers Back
GettyAaron Rodgers threw 24 touchdown passes in 2025.
Here is what McAfee had to say about Pittsburgh putting the tender on Rodgers:
“I guess (the UFA tender) has been used before…There’s just so much drama potentially around this entire thing on all sides. Interesting move that I have not seen, and I had no idea that this has been used before by teams.”
The UFA tender gives them a compensatory pick if he signs anywhere else..
Rodgers can accept a 10 percent raise off last year’s salary, which would pay him about $15M this season #PMSLive
Usually, when a player is tendered by an NFL team, that is a sign that the player is returning to the team for another season. In this situation, it is hard to tell. One side of the coin is that the Steelers are trying to prepare themselves in case a team tries to show interest in Rodgers. The other side is that they could get a compensatory pick if Rodgers decides to move on. What is clear is that the Steelers are willing to pay more for Rodgers in 2026, which means they want him back.
Aaron Rodgers Should Be the Steelers’ Top QB Option
GettyQB Aaron Rodgers and DT Cam Heyward were the Steelers’ two oldest players in 2025.
Even though the Steelers drafted Penn State quarterback Drew Allar in the third round of last week’s NFL Draft, and despite veteran Mason Rudolph and young Will Howard already being on the roster, Rodgers should be the clear favorite to be the team’s starter once again in 2026. Simply put, he is one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. His knowledge is impossible to replace, and despite being in his 40s, he showed last season how good he still is.
After recording 25 total touchdowns and just seven interceptions under the leadership of former head coach Mike Tomlin, the Steelers won their first AFC North title in five years. Rodgers might not be his 2011 self, but he is still a top-10 quarterback.
Now, if he returns to play for the Steelers, he would get the chance to reunite with his former head coach on the Green Bay Packers, Mike McCarthy. McCarthy, who was hired to replace Tomlin this offseason, coached Rodgers for 13 seasons in Green Bay (2006-2018). Rodgers won two MVPs, made seven Pro Bowls, and earned a Super Bowl MVP partially thanks to McCarthy’s teachings.
Pat McAfee Reacts to Steelers Making Rare Move