PHOENIX — The seemingly never-ending Aaron Rodgers saga is creating palpable feelings of familiarity across the NFL, all the way to newly hired Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy.
“It was 2006 when it was my first time doing this. The first question was about a veteran quarterback and whether or not he was going to come back,” McCarthy said, referring to former Packers quarterback Brett Favre at the NFL annual meeting. Head coach media availability is a featured part of the yearly function. “So there’s definitely some déjà vu here.”
The 42-year-old Rodgers, a four-time NFL Most Valuable Player, is in the midst of yet another will-he-won’t-he episode as he decides on his playing future. Very similar deliberations between the Steelers and Rodgers ran through much of last year’s NFL offseason until the quarterback agreed to a one-year, $13.65 million agreement in June 2025—later supplemented with a $500,000 bonus for making the playoffs.
This time, a decision is expected much quicker, and perhaps before next month’s NFL Draft that will be held in Pittsburgh. McCarthy, again questioned from the jump about Rodgers, said he has been in regular dialogue with the mercurial veteran, including as recently as Monday. That’s a change from earlier this month, when Rodgers said there had not been “progressive conversations” with the team.
“It’s going good. It’s been very positive,” McCarthy said of the talks with Rodgers. The two were previously together in Green Bay, winning Super Bowl XLV over the Steelers. “We’ll just continue to talk. I’m confident, but at the end of the day it’s a personal decision. But I think we’re in a good space.”
The stakes in Pittsburgh, meanwhile, are arguably higher this time around. Rodgers performed generally well with the Steelers a year ago, showing occasional flashes of brilliance and helping lead the team to the AFC North division title. But the team’s streak without a playoff victory, dating to the 2016 season, remains intact—helping lead to the January departure of former head coach Mike Tomlin and subsequent hire of McCarthy.
“I wouldn’t say this team’s in a rut. This team won the division last year,” McCarthy said in a response to a Front Office Sports question. “I thought they had some really good moments, and I really like the vibe of the team and how they came down the stretch. I thought they were really positioned to make a run. Now, there’s a new coaching staff and a new system of operations. But winning is a huge part of Pittsburgh Steelers culture, and I’m bringing a winning process to Pittsburgh.”
Building a New Culture
McCarthy, meanwhile, talked extensively about forging a new culture within the Steelers locker room. That will be particularly critical as the long-proud franchise ranked last in the NFL in the newest edition of player report cards from the NFL Players Association.
The Steelers fared poorly in a wide range of areas in the player survey, including locker room quality, treatment of player families, team travel, and field quality. Some corrections are already happening, including the installation of a new field at Acrisure Stadium.
“We’re definitely looking for people who fit our culture and fit Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,” McCarthy said, referring in part to incoming players who will be selected in the NFL Draft. “The emotional connection you build is how you win championships.”
