PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers still do not have a starting quarterback for the 2026 season.

As the Steelers make their preparations for the 2026 NFL Draft, they are waiting on the decision of Aaron Rodgers. The 42-year-old is still debating whether or not to return for a 22nd NFL campaign, and the Steelers are caught in the middle.

Rodgers and the organization have to make progress in order to get him to return for 2026, but that isn’t stopping his former teammates from encouraging him to come back. That includes one of his Green Bay Packers teammates and member of The Pat McAfee Show, A.J. Hawk. The former Packers linebacker said on a recent episode that he’s been encouraging Rodgers, unsuccessfully, to return to Pittsburgh for one more year under new head coach Mike McCarthy.

“No joke, I’ve been sending him texts,” he said. “Telling him, ‘Hey, Aaron you gotta go back, you need to go play for Pittsburgh, you need to play for Big Mike.’ He’ll either say ‘shut up,’ or nothing.”

Steelers Keep Waiting

While the answer is not quite what the Steelers wanted to hear, they continue to wait for Rodgers to make a call. At this point, it’s clear that it’s Pittsburgh or retirement for him, but he’s taking his time deciding.

If he can replicate 2025, it’s hard to envision why he wouldn’t want to return. Even in a much less mobile version of himself, Rodgers managed to collect 3,337 passing yards, throwing for 24 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. With McCarthy’s focus on offensive now in charge, the idea is that life would be easier for the veteran QB in this new-look Steelers offense.

In the meantime, the Steelers have made no backup plans as they have just Will Howard and Mason Rudolph under contract for 2026. It’s Rodgers or nothing for Pittsburgh, just as it’s Pittsburgh or nothing for Rodgers.

Hawk and Rodgers’ Bond Goes Way Back

The relationship between Hawk and Rodgers goes back 20 years. The two played together for nine seasons in Green Bay from 2006 to 2014, highlighted by their Super Bowl championship in 2011.

In the decade since being teammates, the two have remainded close friends. Rodgers has been a frequent guest on The Pat McAfee Show as well since the program’s debut, giving the duo even more time to rehash the glory days.

Still, it hasn’t been enough for Hawk to persuade Rodgers’ decision making. There’s no one who can impress upon the future Hall of Fame quarterback, who marches to the beat of his own drum own his own time.

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The first week of NFL free agency has passed, and Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan did not hesitate to get to work.

Big Acquisitions for Pittsburgh

Within an hour of the “legal tampering window” opening on March 9, Khan struck a deal with the Indianapolis Colts to bring wide receiver Michael Pittman to Pittsburgh. The two teams also swapped late-round picks. As part of the deal, Pittman reworked his deal to a three-year, $59 million contract. This is a move that lowers his cap hit for the upcoming season.

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Hours after bringing in Pittman, the first signing was agreed to. Jamel Dean, formerly of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, agreed to a three-year, $36.75 million contract. Later the same day, Pittsburgh finalized a two-year, $12.25 million deal with Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle.

The following day, former Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker inked a one-year, $5.5 million deal to join the Steelers. Defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day, previously with the Titans, later signed a two-year deal worth $11 million.

How Do These Additions Help the Steelers?

Bringing in a player like Pittman gives the Steelers the second receiving option that they have needed for the last two seasons.

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Pittsburgh has been searching for a second great receiver since trading Diontae Johnson in 2023. It seemed like they had found that number two last offseason after acquiring DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks. However, the Steelers later traded George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys, leaving them in the same situation.

Pittman provides another weapon for Mike McCarthy’s offense that the defense will need to scheme around. Rather than having to worry about guys like Marquez Valdes-Scantling, defenses will now have to adjust for Metcalf and Pittman. This proves a stark upgrade from statistically one of the worst receivers at getting open last season.