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The Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly haven't received word from quarterback Aaron Rodgers about a final decision on whether to return for his 22nd NFL season and don't expect to ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday (April 23), NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported on Monday (April 20).
The Steelers will start mini camp under new head coach Mike McCarthy -- who coached Rodgers during 13 of his 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers -- on Monday with Will Howard as their starting quarterback, according to Rapoport.
"The #Steelers have not received word from Aaron Rodgers on his future and there is no expectation of a final decision prior to the NFL Draft, per me and @TomPelissero. When minicamp begins today under new coach Mike McCarthy, Will Howard will be QB1," Rapoport wrote on his X account.
Last month, McCarthy, 62, said reuniting with Rodgers, 42, would "be a great story" while appearing in Green Bay during the celebration of life for late Packers president Bob Harlan on Monday (March 23), which was emceed by Bob's son, veteran NFL and NBA play-by-play man Kevin Harlan, who asked the coach about the quarterback possibly returning for his second season in Pittsburgh.
"I don't know. I would love to tell everybody [there is] breaking news," McCarthy said via ESPN. "It's really cool to see Aaron at 42 and to see a young man at 22 and all that he's been able to accomplish and where he's at in his personal life and trying to make this decision.
"He's in a really good place, but ... I think he's in a really good place."
Rodgers won Super Bowl XLV victory and had two of his four NFL MVP seasons during his shared tenure with McCarthy. The veteran quarterback waited until June to sign with the Steelers last offseason and threw for 3,222 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions on 327 of 498 passing, while leading Pittsburgh to a 10-6 record and AFC North Division title.
The Steelers haven't set a public deadline for Rodgers to make a decision, however, general manager Omar Khan previously said that he expects one to be made earlier than last offseason via ESPN.