As anticipated, former Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is back in the NFL for at least one more go-round, reportedly agreeing to a one-year deal that reunites him with his former coach in Green Bay.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero was among those reporting that Rodgers, 42, will be back on a one-year deal. Rodgers and Mike McCarthy, of course, conspired to bring a Super Bowl to Green Bay with a win in Super Bowl XLV against the very same team that now employs both.
The Packers under Rodgers and McCarthy went to eight consecutive postseasons, with three conference-championship appearances during that run and the one Super Bowl trip. McCarthy, a former quarterbacks coach who hails originally from Pittsburgh, was part of the Packers braintrust that made the tough call to move on from Brett Favre after the 2007 season.
McCarthy was fired with four games remaining in the 2018 season. Rodgers went on to win two of his four career MVP awards and appear in two more NFC championship games under new coach Matt LaFleur, playing in Green Bay through the 2022 season.
Rodgers was given a rare unrestricted free agent tender by the Steelers this offseason, increasing the likelihood that he’d be back with Pittsburgh if he played for anyone in 2026.
After a year out of coaching, McCarthy was hired by his home-state team on Jan. 24 after veteran coach Mike Tomlin stepped down at the end of the season. McCarthy said more than once that he welcomed Rodgers to the team.
McCarthy returned to Green Bay in March to attend the funeral for former Packers president Bob Harlan and was asked about the possibility of a reunion with Rodgers during a sit-down conversation with legendary announcer Kevin Harlan.
“Yes, it would be a great story,” McCarthy said. “I don’t know, and I would love to tell everybody with breaking news. But it’s really cool to see Aaron at 42. To see a young man at 22 and all of what 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.”
The future Hall of Fame quarterback had some success in his debut season in Pittsburgh, throwing for 3,322 yards with 23 touchdowns and just seven interceptions while completing 65.7% of his passes. The Steelers won their first AFC North Division title since 2020.
In addition to McCarthy, Rodgers gets the chance to potentially end his career with some familiar faces, including former Packers assistants Brian Angelichio, who was named offensive coordinator, and veteran offensive line coach James Campen.
Rodgers played for the Packers from 2005-22 where he established himself as one of the all-time greats, winning four MVPs, four first-team All-Pro honors and the Super Bowl.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Aaron Rodgers will return to Steelers, reunite with Mike McCarthy
Reporting by JR Radcliffe and Dominique Yates, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
