Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported on Saturday that the Pittsburgh Steelers are "more than open" to Aaron Rodgers returning to the team in 2026.
The decision is ultimately up to Rodgers, however. Rodgers said on The Pat McAfee Show in June that he was pretty sure this would be his last year. It's unclear if that stance has changed for the 42-year-old quarterback.
"[The Steelers] are just hoping to get an answer sooner than later like they did last offseason," Rapoport said in regards to Rodgers' future.
Rodgers said last week that he believes he'll have options if he chooses to play again in 2026.
"Whenever the season ends, I'll be a free agent," said Rodgers, who signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh in June. "So that'll give me a lot of options if I still want to play. (Maybe) not a lot options, but there'll be options, I would think. Maybe one or two."
Rodgers also disclosed with McAfee in June that he doesn't want to live a life in the public eye anymore. He said once he's done playing football, "you won't see me."
"I didn't need this. I didn't need it all," Rodgers said. "I don't feel the need to prove anything to anybody (and) don't have any chip on my shoulder that I need to hold on to. I don't want the attention. I know that's a narrative out there. When this is all done … you won't see me. I won't be in the public."
Rodgers confirmed during his introductory press conference with the Steelers that he's been married for a "couple of months."
Rodgers' wife has not been revealed to the public eye, and he wants it to remain that way. The paparazzi in Southern California tried their best to get a photo of him and his wife together, however.
"It's a sick society, isn't it?" Rodgers said. "I lived in the public eye for 20 years. I've had public relationships. How did that work out? I had people leaking my home information and making up stories that we bought a house together. I had people calling the paparazzi, I had people posting (my) personal life on the internet. Didn't want any of that, didn't like any of that. And now I'm with someone that is private, who doesn't want to be in the public eye. Didn't sign up to be a celebrity, doesn't want to be a part of it. And because I do things in private because I want my personal life to be private, I'm somehow weird? And now the paparazzi is stalking me on the beach, trying to get a picture of her, stalking me at the workout. What is the entitlement to information that we're living in society these days where that's like a norm. It's a norm to have athletes addresses. They posted something about a house I bought in Pittsburgh and here's the inside of it and here's where it is. What happened to common decency about security and a personal life that we now have to dive into your details of where you live and what you're doing, who you're with, who you're wife is and if you even have a wife. If you're doing some sort of attention grabbing thing because my wife is a private person. Doesn't have social media. Hasn't been a public person, doesn't want to be a public person. But that is now somehow a weird thing? Where are we at in society where that is like the norm now?
"I told you when this is all done, I'm out. You won't see me. I know that I've chosen to be in the public eye for one more season, but my private life is staying private. And any other ridiculous story that's out there about my family that I don't talk to, you know, they won't know any information about be me. Like leave them alone. And if you want to keep stalking me on the beach and getting photos of me and Apollo (Rodgers' dog), go for it. I don't give a shit. But stop making shit up, and my private life is my private life. And it's going to stay that way."
Rodgers' personal life could play a big part in whether he wants to continue to play. He has certainly displayed that he can still play at a high level, however. He finished the 2025 season completing 65.7% of his passes for 3,332 yards with 24 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a passer rating of 94.8.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Report: Steelers 'More Than Open' to Having Aaron Rodgers Return in 2026
Related Headlines
