For weeks, reports have pointed toward Aaron Rodgers eventually returning to the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2026 season, but no official commitment has arrived.
The Steelers placed a tender on Rodgers, giving themselves leverage while they continue to hold the door open for the four-time MVP.
At the same time, the organization prepared for the possibility that the future Hall of Famer could move on, ramping up second-year quarterback Will Howard and adding Penn State’s Drew Allar in the NFL draft.
The situation took another turn on Friday when Steelers legend Jerome Bettis said that while Rodgers gives Pittsburgh “the best chance to win right now,” he needs to be open to possibly getting benched midseason if things spiral.
Speaking on “Yahoo Sports Daily,” Bettis said the Steelers may need to “pull the plug” if the team is not in playoff position by the middle of the year with Rodgers under center, and that Rodgers has to accept that possibility.
“I’ve got a talented defense, and ultimately they’re going to age out at some point, I’ve got to give them the best chance to win right now. Aaron Rodgers provides that,” Bettis said. “(But) if the Aaron Rodgers experiment does not work, then mid-season, we’ve got to go in a different direction and give the young guys an opportunity to play and develop and see what happens … the key is you’ve got to make sure Aaron Rodgers is on board with understanding that.”
“Who wants to sit Aaron Rodgers? That’s the tough part,” he added.
More news: The 6 Biggest Primetime Matchups of the 2026 NFL Season
Rodgers’ first season in Pittsburgh was productive. The 42-year-old threw for 3,322 yards with 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions while helping the Steelers finish 10-7 and reach the playoffs.
The season, however, ended with a lopsided Wild Card loss to Houston, and critics questioned whether Pittsburgh had become trapped, a franchise too competitive to rebuild, but not dangerous enough to contend.
Even still, many believe Rodgers gives them the best chance to win with the current roster, headlined by one of the best defenses in football.
T.J. Watt remains elite. Cameron Hayward is a future Hall of Famer. Jalen Ramsey and Joey Porter Jr. anchor the secondary. And the team added key difference makers like Jamel Dean, Jaquan Brisker, and Sebastian Joseph-Day in the offseason.
Even at this stage of his career, Rodgers’ arm talent and experience give the Steelers a higher offensive ceiling than most alternatives.
More news: Is This Jalen Hurts’ Last Year in Philly? Some NFL Executives Think It Could Be
More news: Joe Burrow’s Future in Cincinnati Gets Clearer Ahead of 2026 Season
But there is another side to the equation.
The Steelers drafted former five-star recruit Drew Allar in the third round, and the organization also has national champion QB Will Howard waiting in the wings alongside veteran Mason Rudolph.
So while Rodgers may give the Steelers their best chance to maximize this current championship window, the organization has clearly positioned itself to pivot if he chooses not to return to Pittsburgh or if things unravel midseason.
All eyes are now on Rodgers and whether he’s ready to embrace that reality.