Most people in their forties are looking for the “fountain of youth” through yoga classes, cold plunges, or maybe switching from sugared drinks to black coffee. But Aaron Rodgers’ choice to turn back the clock is a glass of warm water and raw cayenne pepper. “T-Mo gave me a little fountain of youth,” Rodgers told reporters at the time, and well, the internet had a field day with it then. But it seems like the joke is on everyone else, because that elixir clearly worked. At 42, Rodgers is doing what other quarterbacks his age can’t even fathom.

While most quarterbacks at his age are sitting on TV panels or going golfing, he is officially coming back for another NFL season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. And well, he didn’t make things easy for the team.

He kept everyone on the loop waiting, refreshing their social media every hour for an update. Is he returning, is he signing elsewhere, or is he just walking towards the sunset, much like what he did last year? In fact this time around Mike McCarthy and the front office actually had backup plans ready in case the plan didn’t work out. In fact this move comes weeks after the Steelers placed a UFA tender on Rodgers.

They did it to get an upper hand in his decision; in case Rodgers signed with another team before training camp, Pittsburgh could get a draft pick, or it would limit where he could go later. But in the end Rodgers came back to the same conclusion as many did; he is not ready to walk away yet. And there is a major reason as to why he has come back.

NFL insider Josina Anderson said through a league source that his love for the team brought him back. “He loved it here; he loves the guys.” Now the reunion is officially happening. And as far as the number game goes, we already have some figures floating.

Aaron Rodgers will reportedly sign a one-year contract and is expected to get a base salary between $22 million and $23 million. Add the incentives, and the total value will go up to around $25 million. The veteran quarterback appears to be getting a much higher salary this time. During the previous season, Rodgers played on a one-year contract worth $13.65 million, including $10 million guaranteed, with incentives that could raise the total to $19.5 million.

Well, the increase in the overall figure makes sense, knowing the kind of player Aaron Rodgers is. Last year, he recorded 3,322 passing yards, 24 touchdown passes, and only 7 interceptions for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He completed 65.7% of his passes and had a 94.8 passer rating. He also rushed for 61 yards and scored one rushing touchdown. He now joins the brotherhood of players who have pushed past the league’s normal limits. Tom Brady in fact still holds the record for being the oldest quarterback to start an NFL game, wrapping up his career at 45 years old when he led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a playoff matchup against the Dallas Cowboys on January 16, 2023.

And while all that is impressive, the problem is that Steelers fans also remember how dire things can get with a player that age.

January 12, 2026, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback AARON RODGERS 8 releases a pass downfield during the NFL, American Football Herren, USA playoff football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh USA – ZUMAg257 20260112_zsp_g257_016 Copyright: xBrentxGudenschwagerx

This time, his return has also raised more red flags than appreciation. So, last year, Rodgers sustained a left wrist injury during the 2025 season against the Cincinnati Bengals. He only missed one game because of that, but fans are still worried about any future implications of the injury. Another concern came in after he struggled against the Texans last year. He only threw 147 yards while getting sacked four times. That performance made some fans question whether he could still lead the team deep into the playoffs.

Fans were also frustrated when Aaron Rodgers took a long time to decide about his return to the Steelers for a second straight year. For months, the front office waited to learn if Rodgers would return for another season, and the situation led to unnecessary rumors and drama around the team. Some fans on Reddit even reacted with mixed feelings after his final move. One fan joked, “Was always gonna happen lol the ‘drama’ around this was funny.”

Now, the team only has one big question left unanswered: the QB room. This year, the team has four solid options: Aaron Rodgers, Will Howard, Drew Allar, and Mason Rudolph. Technically, looking at Rodgers’ experience, he looks like the immediate answer for landing the starting job, but fans aren’t sold on it yet.

Is bringing Aaron Rodgers back to the Steelers the wrong move?

Well, Aaron Rodgers age may raise a few doubts about his return, but let’s not forget that no one knows Mike McCarthy’s system better than him. He is the same coach under whom Rodgers won his only Super Bowl XLV during his time at the Packers. Both have spent 13 years together in Green Bay. This year is a do-or-die situation for both, as it’s a huge comeback opportunity for Rodgers and a major chance for McCarthy to take his team to the playoffs.

Plus, let’s not forget Rodgers is the same guy who helped Pittsburgh win its first division title since 2020. He did that while dealing with an injured left wrist during the second half of the season. He is a four-time NFL MVP and one of the most successful quarterbacks in league history. On top of that, he also played the entire year with a weak group of wide receivers.

Now, talking about the QB competition, the team might not start with rookie QBs right away, which gives quarterbacks Drew Allar and Will Howard (who has yet to play a single snap after being drafted last year) time to develop under Aaron Rodgers.

Plus, to tackle their WR situation, Pittsburgh also added more talent around Rodgers during the offseason. The Steelers signed rookie Germie Bernard from Alabama and traded for former Pro Bowl wide receiver Michael Pittman II. This gives Rodgers solid players to work with alongside star receiver DK Metcalf.

Now, with everything falling right in place for the team, Aaron Rodgers is expected to be in attendance on Monday in Pittsburgh for the OTA session. This will clear a lot of stuff around the team’s QB situation, but for now, the team is betting on experience over anything else.