NEED TO KNOWAaron Rodgers has not yet announced whether he'll return to the Pittsburgh Steelers
The team expected the veteran quarterback's decision over a month ago
The Steelers only have two quarterbacks on their roster
The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking at their quarterback options.As the team awaits word as to whether Aaron Rodgers will play this season, they are making alternate plans for the start of their voluntary minicamp on Monday, April 20, with quarterback Will Howard, a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, tapped as QB1, according to a new report from NFL Network.
The move comes as the AFC team has "not received word" from Rodgers, 42, regarding his football future as of Monday, April 20, and "there is no expectation of a final decision" before the start of the 2026 NFL Draft later this week, per NFL Network.The timeline has clearly shifted from previous expectations about when Rodgers would make his decision about a 22nd NFL season.Last month, Steelers owner Art Rooney II said he was hopeful to receive an answer from the quarterback by the draft, which gets underway in Pittsburgh on Thursday, April 23.
"I think a decision is coming soon," Rooney said at the annual league meeting in Phoenix, according to NFL.com. "I would say by the draft I would expect an answer."
Back in February, Steelers general manager Omar Khan expressed hope for a swift resolution.
"I think the circumstances are a little different, but just conversations we've had, I don't think either side wants to have this drag on like it did last year," Khan said on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, according to NFL.com.
He continued, "The door's open to have Aaron back. I've had conversations with him.”If Rodgers opts to play another season with the Steelers, he would do so with a new coach who’s not so new to him.The former Green Bay Packers quarterback won Super Bowl 2011 with Mike McCarthy, who succeeded longtime Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. Tomlin stepped down as the Steelers' head coach in January after 19 seasons.Rodgers signed a one-year, $13.65 million contract with Pittsburgh last season.
Should Rodgers not return, the Steelers could eye adding another quarterback to the team. In addition to Howard, veteran Mason Rudolph is the other quarterback on the roster.