Steelers Confident Rodgers Will Decide Before Draft

Team president Art Rooney II expects the 42-year-old QB to give an answer on his future in the next few weeks.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 11:04am

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The Pittsburgh Steelers are eagerly awaiting a decision from veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers on whether he will return for one more season or retire. Team president Art Rooney II has expressed confidence that Rodgers will provide an answer before the 2026 NFL Draft, which is a more definitive timeline than previous speculation.

Why it matters

Rodgers' decision will have major implications for the Steelers' offseason plans and the future direction of the franchise. If he returns, the team can build around him for a potential playoff run. If he retires, they will need to turn to younger options like Will Howard to be their starting QB.

The details

The Steelers have been in ongoing discussions with the 42-year-old Rodgers about a potential return, but the timeline for his decision has been uncertain up to this point. Team president Art Rooney II told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac that he expects Rodgers to provide an answer before the 2026 NFL Draft, which is scheduled for late April.

  • The Steelers hired Mike McCarthy as their new head coach, opening the door for Rodgers to potentially return, but he did not provide an answer by the start of free agency.
  • The team traded for wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., which was seen as an effort to entice Rodgers to come back, but he still has not made a decision.
  • Rooney stated in late March 2026 that he expects Rodgers to give the team an answer on his future before the 2026 NFL Draft in late April.

The players

Aaron Rodgers

A 42-year-old veteran quarterback who is considering whether to return for one more season with the Pittsburgh Steelers or retire from the NFL.

Art Rooney II

The president of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who has expressed confidence that Rodgers will provide the team with a decision on his future before the 2026 NFL Draft.

Will Howard

A younger quarterback on the Steelers' roster who could be in line to take over as the starting QB if Rodgers decides to retire.

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What they’re saying

“I still expect that. I expect we'll get an answer before the draft.”

— Art Rooney II, Pittsburgh Steelers Team President

What’s next

The Steelers will wait to see if Rodgers informs them of his decision on his NFL future before the 2026 NFL Draft in late April. If he decides to retire, the team will need to turn its attention to developing Will Howard or potentially adding another quarterback through the draft or free agency.

The takeaway

Rodgers' decision will be a pivotal moment for the Steelers, as they look to either build around the veteran QB for one more playoff push or transition to a new era with a younger signal-caller. Rooney's confidence in Rodgers providing an answer before the draft suggests the team believes the 42-year-old is leaning towards returning for one more season.