Why Steelers leaving ‘door open’ for Aaron Rodgers return may mean less than you think
· Yahoo Sports
INDIANAPOLIS — As Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan prepared to address media at the NFL scouting combine on Tuesday, the flashbacks hit.
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Only two years ago, as the Steelers finished their second season with a bottom-10 offense led by quarterback Kenny Pickett, a reporter asked Khan: Did he have full faith in Pickett entering Year 3?
“We have — I have full faith in Kenny,” Khan said Feb. 29, 2024. “He’s shown us some good things, and obviously there were some issues with the offense. And I’m excited about the impact that Arthur Smith’s going to have on him.
“Arthur’s very optimistic about Kenny. I know they’ve communicated and said we’ll have some strong competition there and see where it goes.”
Less than two weeks later, the Steelers signed quarterback Justin Fields. Kenny Pickett was a Philadelphia Eagle by March 15 and Russell Wilson a Steeler by March 29.
Sure, Khan had indicated the club would invite “strong competition.” Even so, the general manager’s “full faith” endorsement rang hollow in near-record time.
So as Khan fielded questions this week about the future of four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers, it was worth asking: How much should fans take his words at face value?
The Steelers signed Rodgers last season to a one-year deal after Rodgers wanted to play for longtime head coach Mike Tomlin. Rodgers completed 65.7% of his passes for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions while leading the Steelers to a playoff berth and home wild-card loss. When Tomlin stepped down days later, team owner Art Rooney II said “Aaron came here to play for Mike, so I think it will most likely affect his decision.”
Clarity has not yet arrived.
Khan expressed interest Tuesday in Rodgers returning for a second season.
“The door’s open to have Aaron back,” Khan said. “I’ve had conversations with him. I spoke to him last week. Mike McCarthy has spoke to him, and he knows how we feel about him. Right now we’re proceeding [like] he’s a free agent and he’s on the roster.
“But he knows how we feel about him.”
Will that lead to a reunion?
Khan’s Rodgers-specific comments seemed to indicate that the ball was in Rodgers’ court. A return would mean not only a reunion for Rodgers and his 2024 team, but also a reunion for Rodgers and his 13-year Green Bay Packers head coach in McCarthy. That track record and deep understanding could sway Rodgers.
But the Steelers can’t afford to wait.
If Rodgers isn’t Pittsburgh’s 2026 QB1, who might be?
In hiring McCarthy rather than an up-and-coming talent, Rooney made clear that he’s not interested in a rebuild. He wants to win now. That necessitates a quarterback.
The Steelers selected Ohio State’s Will Howard in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but a fractured finger in his throwing hand limited Howard’s exposure. The 2026 NFL Draft is widely considered shallow at quarterback, while the 2027 class allures personnel executives. That combination could further increase the Steelers’ desire for Rodgers to serve another season as bridge, or could prompt Pittsburgh to give Howard the keys with an understanding that higher-end talent is one year out.
“Like all the fans, we’re all searching for the next franchise player,” Khan said. “[The] guy who’s going to be our quarterback for 10 to 15 years, and it might be Will. We don’t know…
“Unfortunately he got hurt and we didn’t get a chance to see him in preseason, but we’ve watched his progression in practice and it’s been exciting. I know the new coaching staff, specifically Coach McCarthy, is excited to work with him.”
A free agent quarterback could be in the mix for Pittsburgh, too.
Khan spoke multiple times Tuesday about the “flexibility” the Steelers have while not paying a quarterback top dollar. But even paying a pending free agent like Green Bay’s Malik Willis around $30 million per year would still be well below the 11 league quarterbacks making north of $50 million per year. The Steelers pursued Sam Darnold last offseason when Minnesota let him walk and he ultimately signed with the Seattle Seahawks, a person with knowledge of the pursuit told Yahoo Sports. That strategy could suggest that Pittsburgh is willing to pay for what executives view as the “middle-class” quarterback rather than only developmental prospects, if Rodgers does not return.
Khan was asked Tuesday whether Rodgers’ free-agent decision had narrowed only to the Steelers and retirement, or whether the 42-year-old would consider playing his 22nd season with another team.
“That’s a question for Aaron,” Khan said. “I mean, he knows how we feel and I think we knows he feels about us. It was a good experience for both sides. Unfortunately we didn’t reach our goals on winning the games that we wanted to win at the end, but there’s a mutual respect there.”
Khan said he doesn’t expect the waiting game to last until June as the Steelers’ pursuit of Rodgers did a year ago.
“The circumstances are a little different,” Khan said. “But just conversations we had, I think neither side wants to have this drag on like it did last year.”
With free agency looming, a decision from Rodgers would allow the Steelers to fully understand their options before quarterbacks like Willis, the Arizona Cardinals’ Kyler Murray and the Miami Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa find their new homes. The Atlanta Falcons confirmed Tuesday they’re releasing veteran Kirk Cousins and not re-signing him, which will influence the quarterback supply-demand puzzle. But signing Cousins for a lower-end version of what Rodgers did in 2025 seems illogical.
Instead, the Steelers will continue posturing that they’re waiting for Rodgers and leaving the door open for his return. Their conversations in free agency, and perhaps even their 30 visits for the draft, may tell another story.
Are the Steelers really homing in on Rodgers and Rodgers alone for their 2026 quarterback?
Perhaps fans shouldn’t have full faith.