Five months. That’s how long Aaron Rodgers took to finally sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers in June 2025. Well, that was Mike Tomlin’s era. And that has ended. This time around, their new head coach, Mike McCarthy, isn’t willing to wait around that much for a reunion.

“Our Steelers insider Jeff Hathorn says Omar Khan [general manager] let Aaron Rodgers know that they need a decision ‘in a month.’” 93.7 The Fan’s Andrew Fillipponi tweeted on X, “So before free agency. That’s a far cry from last year.”

Last season, the Steelers gave Aaron Rodgers a much softer deadline of April 21 to take the final call. That wasn’t random, as Penn Live’s Nick Farabaugh explained the nitty-gritty of onboarding as big as Rodgers. According to him, teams naturally inherit some things Rodgers likes, including his hand signals and concepts. Installing all those in a pre-existing playbook takes time. 

But who knows McCarthy’s strategies better than Rodgers?

The two were together back in Green Bay and worked for 13 seasons. So, McCarthy’s wish to not give the 42-year-old any longer is understandable.

Firstly, McCarthy doesn’t want to waste time rebuilding his roster and coaching staff. It became evident as he recently made a call on Tomlin’s three assistants and nearly named the team’s next defensive coordinator. 

They may also need a veteran’s presence to guide Will Howard. If Aaron Rodgers doesn’t return, free agency will allow them to address this situation more effectively. Whatever the case, McCarthy has made it clear that he “definitely” wants to bring the Super Bowl champion back.

“I don’t see why you wouldn’t,” he said. “I have spoken to Aaron, and so that’s really where we are there, but I was able to sit back and watch the games and watch most of the Pittsburgh games on TV, and I thought he was a great asset for the team.”

In fact, Art Rooney II clarified that they’ve left the door open for Rodgers to return. However, it also comes with a time limit this year. Already, Rodgers was quite vague when he talked about his future with the Steelers.

“Obviously, I’m 42 years old, and I’m on a one-year deal, so you know what the situation is,” Rodgers said ahead of the regular-season finale. “Whenever the season ends, I’ll be a free agent.”

Meanwhile, the Steelers players all wish for the future Hall of Famer to return to Pittsburgh next year, even if it means for a year. Somehow, that just might come to fruition. While Rodgers was not the reason why McCarthy was brought in, the latter might influence the quarterback’s choice, as he came to play for Tomlin last season. Although he is no longer here, the Steelers don’t exactly have a brand new coach he can work under.

While the Rodgers’ decision remains up in the air, the head coach has received a fresh update coming straight from Louisiana State University.

Could Mike McCarthy’s connection aid the QB search?

The 2026 NFL draft will kick off on January 23 in Pittsburgh and will go on for three days. Unfortunately, it marks the home team’s sixth consecutive offseason when it will be seeking a long-term solution for the quarterback position. Now, it remains to be seen if he’ll solve the issue through the draft or free agency. 

The Steelers have a reputation for their stability and valuing relationships and familiarity. Moreover, McCarthy has already mentioned that he likes their current QB, Will Howard. However, that wouldn’t stop them from searching for a new signal caller.

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One prospect who’s gaining traction is LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who’s coming off a somewhat dull season with 1,927 passing yards, twelve touchdowns, and fifteen sacks. During his recent media interaction, a reporter asked whether he would like to suit up for Pittsburgh. 

“I’d love to go play for the Steelers, and it would be awesome to play for Coach McCarthy,” he said.  

Nussmeier’s connection to the Steelers comes from his father. Doug Nussmeier currently serves as offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints. He previously worked under McCarthy as the quarterbacks coach for the Dallas Cowboys from 2020 to 2022. This shared history has led to questions about whether it could affect Pittsburgh’s interest.

However, Nussmeier quickly dismissed the idea that personal ties should play a role in the draft process. He emphasized not leaning on connections to attract opportunities. He simply wants a fair chance to prove his mettle as his career progresses, no matter which team gives him that shot. Ahead of draft week, Nussmeier remains focused on earning a spot. Meanwhile, the Steelers are still considering every option to stabilize their quarterback position.