One of the biggest early NFL draft assumptions for 2026 is the Pittsburgh Steelers will take a quarterback in the first round. But next spring, the Steelers may not be done yet with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
When asked Friday about whether Rodgers could be Pittsburgh’s quarterback again in 2026, Pittsburgh general manager Omar Khan didn’t rule it out.
“We have to see how the season goes, but absolutely,” Khan said on The Rich Eisen Show on Friday. “He’s a young 41, and we’re obviously taking it year but year — that’s where we’re at.
“But we’re obviously not closing the door on anything.”
Aaron Rodgers Suggests 2025 Will Be His Final NFL Season
It’s important to note that just because Rodgers returns doesn’t mean the Steelers can’t or won’t still select a quarterback in the first round.
But Khan’s remark was noteworthy after Rodgers strongly implied this summer 2025 would be his final NFL campaign.
“I’m pretty sure this is it. That’s why we just did a one-year deal,” Rodgers said on The Pat McAfee Show on June 24. “Steelers didn’t need to put an extra years on that or anything. So, this was really about finishing with a lot of love and fun and peace for the career that I’ve had.
“I’ve played 20 fricking years … I’ve enjoyed it, and what better place to finish than with one of the cornerstone franchises of the NFL with Mike Tomlin and a great group of leadership and great guys in a city that, you know, expects you to win.”
Will Steelers Draft QB in 2026 NFL Draft?
Draft experts were surprised the Steelers weren’t more aggressive in adding a quarterback during the 2025 NFL Draft. Pittsburgh selected quarterback Will Howard at No. 185 overall in the sixth round.
When the Steelers made that decision, Rodgers had yet to sign. But the organization made clear that the veteran quarterback had zero impact on the team’s draft.
It’s unlikely, another year older, Rodgers would have any impact on the Steelers draft decisions next spring either. Early 2026 draft predictions have the Steelers grabbing a quarterback in the first round.
It makes sense that Khan needs to see how the regular season goes before making a definitive decision on Rodgers’ future. How this season goes, though, shouldn’t have much impact on the Steelers draft decisions at quarterback.
Pittsburgh is set to start a different signal-caller for the fifth year in a row during Week 1 this fall. Rodgers could start this September and then return for 2026 to break the streak, but even so, the veteran is 41 years old. The Steelers should search for a long-term quarterback solution.
The best place to find that is in the draft.
Rodgers played extremely well in the middle of this thirties, winning his third and fourth MVP awards during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He hasn’t posted a winning record as a starter, though, since 2021.
The veteran quarterback missed nearly all of the 2023 campaign after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in Week 1.
The hope this season is another year removed from that injury, Rodgers will be better than last season and provide the efficient, smart quarterback play the veteran Steelers roster needs.
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