Rodgers secures one-year return to Steelers for 2026 season
The 42-year-old quarterback reunites with Mike McCarthy, replacing Mike Tomlin, while the Steelers navigate significant roster changes ahead of the new campaign.
Aaron Rodgers has agreed to a one-year contract to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2026 NFL season, according to CBS Sports Lead NFL Insider Jonathan Jones. The 42-year-old quarterback, who is projected to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, will earn up to $25 million, with $22 million guaranteed. The agreement concludes a decision-making process that extended well beyond the NFL draft, with sources indicating the deal was finalised on Saturday night.
The Steelers secured Rodgers’ return through the application of a right of first refusal tender, a mechanism rarely utilised in the league that signals the team’s intent to retain the player. Rodgers is scheduled to report for Organised Team Activities (OTAs) on Monday. The move marks his second stint with Pittsburgh after a two-year tenure with the New York Jets, during which he sought to re-establish his standing in the league.
A significant structural change accompanies the signing: Rodgers will be working under head coach Mike McCarthy, who previously coached him with the Green Bay Packers and won a Super Bowl with him in 2010. McCarthy replaces Mike Tomlin, who stepped down one day after the Steelers’ season-ending loss to the Houston Texans in the AFC wild card round. The coaching transition follows a season where Rodgers led the team to a 10-7 record and their first division title since 2020.
The roster has undergone notable turnover since the previous campaign. Running back Kenneth Gainwell, a favourite of Rodgers, departed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has been replaced by Rico Dowdle, who recorded his second consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season. The receiving corps has also been bolstered by the acquisition of former Colts receiver Michael Pittman and rookie second-round pick Germie Bernard, both of whom are expected to alleviate pressure on Rodgers and DK Metcalf by reducing double-team coverage.
Rodgers enters the 2026 season with his career statistics firmly entrenched in league history. He currently ranks fifth all-time in passing yards with 66,274 and fourth in touchdown passes, trailing only Brett Favre. With 13 more touchdowns, he is poised to move into third place on the all-time list, surpassing Peyton Manning. Despite his four MVP awards and regular-season success, Rodgers has yet to return to a Super Bowl, a objective he aims to achieve in his 22nd season.
