With longtime head coach Mike Tomlin stepping down after 19 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the future of quarterback Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh is now uncertain.
Rodgers joined the Steelers in 2025 largely because of his relationship with Tomlin, and with the coach’s exit, both sides face a pivotal offseason decision.
Several reports indicate that convincing the four-time MVP to reconsider his plans may hinge on the Steelers’ next coaching hire and the return of someone Rodgers trusts.
Potential Mike McCarthy link could sway Aaron Rodgers
Commentators have speculated that the Steelers could use Rodgers’ past relationships to their advantage.
“I saw that Mike McCarthy’s name got thrown in the hat here now. And that’s his guy. That’s his guy in Green Bay. That’s a Pittsburgh guy. Now that could save him. That could save it.”
The idea is that hiring someone Rodgers has worked with before, such as former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, might recreate the comfort and familiarity he had earlier in his career.
Rodgers and McCarthy won a Super Bowl together in Green Bay, and that shared success could be a factor in steering the veteran back to Pittsburgh if Rodgers decides to play in 2026.
Aaron Rodgers’ future now tied to coach and organizational vision
NFL insider Ian Rapoport has stated that Rodgers is not expected to return to the Steelers now that Tomlin is gone, largely because Rodgers specifically came to Pittsburgh to play for the veteran coach.
Rodgers’ one-year deal in 2025 was influenced by that relationship, and with Tomlin’s resignation, his future with the franchise has been thrown into doubt.
At the same time, sources have indicated that players within the Steelers organization have made it known they want Rodgers back for another season, praising his leadership and respect inside the locker room.
Even though his return is considered unlikely, the organization remains open to a reunion, and the decision may hinge on whom the Steelers hire as their next head coach. Names like Mike McCarthy, who holds previous ties to Rodgers, have surfaced in early coaching search discussions.
Rodgers, who turns 43 in 2026 and previously suggested he might retire after the 2025 season, has not ruled out continuing in the NFL, but Tomlin’s departure has shifted the narrative.
For Pittsburgh to persuade him to stay, the Steelers may have to align their coaching search with someone Rodgers trusts and respects, potentially reviving momentum for his return under a familiar voice.
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