Seven years and 30 regular-season games later, Mason Rudolph still finds himself in the same spot where he started, backup. For a broader context, Rudolph has served as a backup to 6 different starting quarterbacks across his NFL career.

While McCarthy and Rodgers stayed in constant communication as Rodgers hung out in Malibu, California, with his wife and weighed his options for 2026, the Steelers selected Penn State quarterback Drew Allar in the third round of the draft, and McCarthy has talked up 2025 sixth-round choice Will Howard at every turn since taking over.

The podium microphone was live at Steelers OTAs when Aaron Rodgers, 42 years old and entering year 22, said the two words that closed a generation of football.

Two years ago, after the Pittsburgh Steelers had traded Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles and jettisoned Mitchell Trubisky, I spent some time with a senior level decision-maker in the franchise when we broached the topic of the quarterback shakeup.

Aaron Rodgers confirms 2026 will be his final NFL season, planning to retire after playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers in his 22nd year in the league.

Four-time NFL Most Valuable Player Aaron Rodgers says he will retire after the upcoming season, ending a career that saw him become a fixture in the league for more than two decades

Rodgers enters Year 22 in the top five of just about every notable passing category. Who could he pass in the leaderboards in his 17-game swan song?

However Rodgers' final act ends, this will be a quest worth watching — one with a tinge of redemption and defiance.

Aaron Rodgers could earned $2.5 million in incentives next season, but he has his work cut out for him to hit those benchmarks.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers spoke for the first time since re-signing and said he will retire after the 2026 season.