McCarthy spoke about his former (and potentially future) quarterback during a ‘Pat McAfee Show’ appearance Friday.
In the days since he was hired to take over his hometown Steelers, Mike McCarthy has made it clear how he feels about quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is coming off of his first season in Pittsburgh and once again weighing retirement after turning 42 in December.
the franchise did not hire McCarthy in hopes that it would keep Rodgers in the fold for another year, it appears that the team is certainly hoping that it is a byproduct of the move. McCarthy was Rodgers’s first NFL coach after the future Hall of Famer was drafted by the Packers; Rodgers won two of his four MVP awards under McCarthy in 2011 and ‘14, and the pair led Green Bay to a win in Super Bowl XLV over Pittsburgh.Friday, McCarthy confirmed that he has spoken to Rodgers “a number of times” since taking the Steelers job, but that he’s happy to allow his former quarterback to go through his normal offseason process before making a decision on 2026.Like anybody that has played the game for a long time it's important for him to decompress after the season" ~ Coach McCarthy“I’ve spoken to Aaron a number of times, but I think just like anybody that played the game a long time, particularly at this point in their career, it’s important to get away,” McCarthy said. “That’s a normal process. I think it’s important for all these players to decompress and step away from the season. And that’s really the mindset that he’s in and that’s really about as far as our conversations have gone as far as if he’s coming back or not coming back. So I think it’s important for him to do the things he normally does just to step away and make those decisions. “But you’re talking about every player on the roster. Obviously it’s a constant, as far as the communication between Omar and I, and he always has the roster board open in his office. So we’re talking about these players a number of times a day to make sure I’m getting familiar with them, and we’re just continuing to have conversation about the direction we want to go.”While Rodgers’s performance last season was a far cry from his vintage MVP form with the Packers, he was relatively effective, taking a step forward from his 2024 season with the Jets in most statistical categories. He finished the year with 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions, with one rushing touchdown and led Pittsburgh to a 10–6 record as starter. .The Steelers were blown out by the Texans in the wild-card round, 30–6, and Rodgers was not effective, throwing for 146 yards with an interception on 17-for-33 passing. Rodgers played on a one-year deal with Pittsburgh in 2025, and will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, if he chooses to return to football. If Rodgers elects to retire, the Steelers will have veteran backup Mason Rudolph and 2025 rookie Will Howard on roster, with the opportunity to add other players in the offseason. Given McCarthy’s familiarity with Rodgers, the pair’s repaired relationship since McCarthy’s Green Bay ouster in 2018 and the uncertainty of the quarterback market, it is no surprise that he’d like to see Rodgers back in ‘26.Dan Lyons is a staff writer and editor on Sports Illustrated's Breaking and Trending News team. He joined SI for his second stint in November 2024 after a stint as a senior college football writer at Athlon Sports, and a previous run with SI spanning multiple years as a writer and editor. Outside of sports, you can find Dan at an indie concert venue or movie theater.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Pittsburgh Steelers to retain three Mike Tomlin assistants under Mike McCarthy’s staffThe Pittsburgh Steelers are set to keep three assistants on board with Mike McCarthy.
Read more »
Pittsburgh Steelers closing in on hiring heralded defensive mind with Mike McCarthy tiesThe Pittsburgh Steelers are closing in on Patrick Graham being the team's new defensive coordinator.
Read more »
Ben Roethlisberger Strongly Endorses Mike McCarthy As Steelers HC: 'Great Hire'Big Ben thinks Pittsburgh made the right call in bringing McCarthy aboard.
Read more »
Steelers Begin New Era with Mike McCarthy, Aaron Rodgers' Future UncertainThe Pittsburgh Steelers officially introduced Mike McCarthy as their new head coach, marking the beginning of a new era after Mike Tomlin's departure. The team now faces key decisions, including the quarterback situation with Aaron Rodgers. Principal owner Art Rooney II indicated a decision on Rodgers' future is expected within the next month, potentially leading to a reunion with McCarthy. The hiring of McCarthy was not heavily influenced by Rodgers' future, the team emphasizing their desire for McCarthy. With other quarterback options like Will Howard and Mason Rudolph, the Steelers are strategically planning for the future.
Read more »
Steelers Replace Eddie Faulkner With New RB CoachThe Pittsburgh Steelers have a new running backs coach for 2026.
Read more »
This rising NFL coach emerges as Steelers OC candidate with Aaron Rodgers, Mike McCarthy connectionsThe Steelers could look to make Scott Tolzien their next offensive coordinator.
Read more »