The Pittsburgh Steelers are still waiting on an answer from 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers about whether or not he plans to play in 2026.
The team safeguarded itself in case he chooses retirement, selecting Penn State QB Drew Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL draft.
Rodgers was rumored to be in Pittsburgh over the weekend to meet with the team and sign his contract, but that ultimately didn’t happen and there seems to be no actual resolution in sight.
But Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk speculated about what the holdup could be. Florio suggested that Rodgers may be angling for one specific thing before committing to the Steelers for another season.
“Even if it’s not part of the official contract (and it can’t be), Rodgers could seek an unofficial commitment that, if he’s ever benched, he’d also be released,” Florio wrote. “If that happens after the trade deadline, Rodgers would have to pass through waivers. If it’s believed at the time that Rodgers is targeting a potential quarterback-needy team, anyone could block that by putting in a waivers claim.
“… Rodgers would have to be released before the Tuesday after Week 9. What if he’s looking for that kind of commitment on the way in? If the Steelers are (for example) 3-6 or worse after the ninth Sunday of the season (assuming their bye comes after Week 9), he’ll be released — without having to ask for it.”
Why It Matters
While Pittsburgh can’t actually list such a clause in Rodgers’ contract, the four-time MVP may be waiting on a handshake agreement that guarantees he be released and free to sign with a team competing for a playoff spot if the Steelers are out of the playoff race by the trade deadline.
Rodgers has been linked exclusively to two teams this offseason: the Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings.
The Cardinals aren’t expected to contend for a playoff spot in a loaded NFC West that features the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, who lost to the Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game, and the San Francisco 49ers, who came one win away from clinching the No. 1 seed in the NFC last season.
The Vikings, on the other hand, are a different story. Minnesota signed two-time Pro Bowler Kyler Murray to compete with J.J. McCarthy. If neither work out by midseason, Rodgers could be an option for the Vikings to help salvage their season.
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