There’s been radio silence between the Steelers and Aaron Rodgers regarding his future, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported Monday.
The Steelers don’t expect to hear from the veteran quarterback on whether he’ll return for a 22nd NFL season before this week’s NFL draft, which is taking place in Pittsburgh.
Will Howard — a sixth-round pick last year out of Ohio State — will be QB1 when the Steelers begin their bonus minicamp under new head coach Mike McCarthy on Monday.
Rodgers, who is a free agent and weighing retirement after signing a one-year, $13.65 million contract with Pittsburgh for the 2025 season, would ideally commit to the Steelers prior to the start of OTAs in mid-May, per Pelissero.
The report comes after Steelers owner Art Rooney II said he expects a decision from Rodgers before the draft while speaking with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on March 30.
“When I talked to him and [general manager] Omar [Khan] talked to him, he told us he wasn’t going to take as long this year as he did last year [to make a decision],” Rooney said.
“I’m not 100 percent sure what that means, but I expect something before the draft.”
Rooney added that “all options are on the table” when asked if the club would consider taking a quarterback with the 21st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, which begins April 23 in Pittsburgh.
The second and third rounds are set for Friday, and rounds four through seven take place Saturday.
Rodgers, who’s been training at home in California, had been in regular communication with McCarthy and Steelers brass amid the 2026 NFL Annual League Meeting, held from March 29 to April 1 in Phoenix.
McCarthy, who coached Rodgers for 13 years in Green Bay, explained at the time that he was “comfortable with the dialogue,” and that their conversations were similar to ones they’ve had in years past.
“Just like they always are, life, football, what’s going on at the facility,” McCarthy said of his communication with Rodgers this offseason. “So he’s really engaged with what’s going on.
” … I would just say he’s in a very positive space. We’ll just continue to engage in conversations. I think he’s in a really good spot in his life, but he’s 42.”
McCarthy added that he and general manager Omar Khan discussed scenarios if Rodgers decides to retire.
During a March 4 appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers said he had been in talks with McCarthy and Khan — adding that there was “no deadline” or contract offer presented to him at the time.
Rodgers added that he was enjoying his offseason and spending time with his wife.
In 2025, the former four-time MVP threw 24 touchdowns to seven interceptions in 16 games with the Steelers.
