Aaron Rodgers undecided on Steelers future despite Mike McCarthy arrival
Aaron Rodgers says he has not yet decided whether to continue his playing career despite the Pittsburgh Steelers hiring his former head coach Mike McCarthy.
The four-time NFL MVP addressed his status publicly for the first time since the season ended during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.
Rodgers, who is set to become a free agent in less than a week, confirmed the franchise has not issued a deadline regarding his intentions for the 2026 campaign.
No rush to decide
The 42-year-old quarterback initially signed a one-year contract with Pittsburgh in June 2025 after a lengthy deliberation process.
Despite the arrival of McCarthy, with whom Rodgers won a Super Bowl in Green Bay, the veteran maintains he is currently “laying low”.
“There’s been no deadline that’s been put in front of me,” Rodgers said.
“There’s no contract offer or anything, so there’s nothing that I’m having to debate between. I’m a free agent.”
Front office stance
Steelers general manager Omar Khan has previously indicated a desire to avoid the protracted saga that occurred last offseason.
The signal-caller did not agree terms on his previous deal until just before mandatory minicamp in June, a timeline the club hopes to avoid repeating.
Khan told reporters at the NFL Combine that while he does not have a strict cut-off date, he hopes the process will be swifter.
“I love Mike, and Mike and I have kept some contact over the years,” Rodgers added regarding the coaching change.
However, he insisted that no conversations demanding a decision by the start of free agency have taken place.
Season statistics
The former Packers star started 16 games for Pittsburgh last season, throwing 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
He led the team to an AFC North title before they were eliminated by the Houston Texans in the first round of the play-offs.
When asked about his current training regime, Rodgers joked that his workouts were strictly for fitness rather than football preparation.
“I’m trying to stay fit,” he said. “I mean, it’s harder when you get older, so you can’t take the same amount of time off as you used to.”