Steelers give Rodgers a one-year deal, but the 2026 Draft class isn’t out of the picture yet
Aaron Rodgers is heading back to Pittsburgh, signing a one-year contract worth $22 million guaranteed, with incentives that could push it up to $25 million.
This deal serves two purposes. It gives the Steelers another legitimate shot at making a playoff run in 2026 while still allowing the front office to keep an eye on long-term quarterback options.
Pittsburgh could have made this offseason a lot more complicated. Instead, they kept a veteran in the mix, picked up Drew Allar in the third round, and avoided locking themselves into a long-term deal with a 43-year-old quarterback.
That is what separates Rodgers’ return from simply chasing past glory. The Steelers are still buying time, but they are doing it in a way that keeps their options open.
Rodgers was still effective, if not spectacular, in 2025
Rodgers finished the 2025 season with 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He led the Steelers to a 10-win campaign and an AFC North crown. Given those results, bringing him back for another year makes sense if Pittsburgh believes it can put a stronger group around him.
At the same time, that performance explains why the deal is only for one season. Rodgers didn’t have any 300-yard games last year and completed just 39.3 per cent of his passes when under pressure. He also relied heavily on short throws, with over 71 per cent of his attempts targeting receivers within 10 air yards. While he still managed to guide them to wins, his physical tools aren’t what they once were.
The Steelers didn’t repeat the mistake of leaving Rodgers to do it all himself. This time around, they added Michael Pittman, whose game fits well with shorter routes. Rico Dowdle was brought in to help out in the backfield, and they used top draft picks on offence, including tackle Max Iheanachor.
That approach lines up with where Rodgers is now. He’s not the off-script playmaker he once was. These days, his game is about controlling the pace, making quick decisions and keeping the offence moving forward while still hitting key throws when it matters.
Allar’s development stays on track with this move
Allar is still seen as the long-term answer, and this deal lets the Steelers stay patient. Rodgers is there to handle the present, but they haven’t boxed themselves in by pretending he’s a multi-year solution.
This kind of balance is important. Plenty of teams get stuck between an ageing starter and an unproven backup because they’ve handed out a contract that’s too difficult to shift. Pittsburgh avoided that trap by keeping Rodgers’ deal short and manageable.
The Steelers are not chasing an abstract Rodgers bounce-back. They are chasing one more competent, controlled season from a veteran who already knows how to steer them into relevance, with a roster that should be friendlier to his style than last year’s version.
If it works, Pittsburgh stays in the playoff mix and buys Allar more time. If it does not, the franchise still gets back to the quarterback quickly. That is why this deal makes sense. It is ambitious enough for 2026 and narrow enough not to wreck what comes after.
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