Mike McCarthy reveals Steelers spoke to Aaron Rodgers before placing right-of-refusal tender on him

The Mike McCarthy era as the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach has started a bit cloudy regarding his quarterback. However, he did reveal that the front office had a communication process with Aaron Rodgers before the team opted to place a right-of-refusal tender on the future Hall of Famer.

Speaking to Adam Schein of Mad Dog Sports Radio, McCarthy said, “Definitely there was communication beforehand [with Aaron Rodgers] and it’s something that just puts us in position to be smart business wise.” This information is key, as it was reported that Rodgers could be frustrated with the Steelers over this contract move.

This could perfectly hint at the fact that the Steelers do know that Rodgers will be back. If there was uncertainty around his return to the NFL, this would all be pointless. Hence, this all signals a return from the four-time MVP.

Aaron Rodgers’ 2025 numbers

Rodgers guided the Steelers to the AFC North title with a 10-6 record. As for his individual numbers, Rodgers completed 65.7% of his passes for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also delivered some huge flashback moments to his prime throughout the season.

While it was clear he wasn’t going to be the 4,000-yard quarterback he once was, Rodgers is still accurate and smart. His cleverness allows him to read defenses and if given time in the pocket, he is still capable to decimate defenses with pinpoint accuracy.

See also

Steelers release QB/WR/returner John Rhys Plumlee amid Aaron Rodgers’ uncertain future

The Steelers have no quality plan B for Rodgers

At least for 2026, the Steelers do need Rodgers to come back. Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, or recently-drafted Drew Allar are nowhere near Rodgers’ level. Rudolph has a low ceiling, while Howard and Allar are young, raw prospects that might not be NFL-ready just yet.

Hence, Rodgers coming back could actually make or break the Steelers season. Therefore, the right-of-refusal tender was key for the Steelers to get some certainty amid all the doubts surrounding the QB position.