The Pittsburgh Steelers and Aaron Rodgers have finally answered the biggest question of the NFL offseason. The veteran quarterback is set to return for a 22nd season.
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NFL insider Tom Pelissero broke the news on Saturday night. He cited sources, who said that the Steelers and Rodgers have agreed on a one-year deal. The four-time MVP is expected to rejoin the team on Monday for the start of Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and to remain with them through the spring.
Once the Steelers complete training camp and the preseason, he will line up under center for the Week 1 home opener against the Atlanta Falcons. This game will take place on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 1 p.m. ET. It will air on Fox.
ESPN's Adam Schefter said that the deal is not yet signed. However, he noted that Rodgers will earn a base salary around $22-23 million with a few million more in incentives.
This reunion with the Steelers means that Rodgers will also once again play for the coach with which he spent the majority of his career. He landed with the Packers in the 2005 NFL Draft, and he spent his rookie season under Mike Sherman.
However, the Packers fired Sherman after a 4-12 season and brought in Mike McCarthy, who is now the Steelers head coach. McCarthy led the Packers for almost 13 seasons, a run that included a Super Bowl win over the Steelers.
Rodgers earned seven of his 10 trips to the Pro Bowl while working with McCarthy, and he led the NFL in passer rating twice (2011, 2012). He led the NFL in passing touchdowns in 2016. He also won two of his four MVP awards while working with McCarthy.
The situation has certainly changed since the two last worked together. McCarthy spent five seasons in Dallas and took the team to three 12-5 seasons. The team never reached the NFC championship.
Rodgers remained with the Packers through 2022. He then joined the Jets but missed his first year with a torn Achilles. He then returned for a 5-12 season in 2024.
He spent last season with the Steelers under Mike Tomlin and went 10-6 in the 16 games he started. However, he struggled during a wild-card round loss to the Texans while accounting for two turnovers.
Now, Rodgers will return as he and McCarthy try to get the Steelers back to the playoffs, the AFC championship, and the Super Bowl.
