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The Pittsburgh Steelers are still awaiting Aaron Rodgers’ decision on the 2026 NFL season: Will he play or does retirement finally demand the four-time MVP?
The Steelers and head coach Mike McCarthy, their former leader from his time with the Green Bay Packers, continue to wait patiently, as does one of the newest in the building: wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr.
“I hope it’s close,” Pittman told Pak Gazette Digital during a recent interview ahead of his time at the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh with Toyota.
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New Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Michael Pittman Jr. expects Aaron Rodgers to be “close” to making a decision on whether or not to play in 2026. (Getty Images)
Pittman arrived in Pittsburgh earlier this offseason after the Indianapolis Colts reached an agreement with the Steelers to send the seven-year receiver east. As he continues to acclimate, Pittman is already hearing the question: Will Rodgers return?
“I don’t know anything; people think we know something. Why would Aaron tell me something?” he said, laughing.
Pittman said he’s not “too worried about it” from a personal perspective, given that his time in Indianapolis was plagued by quarterback losses. Throughout his tenure with the Colts, Pittman played for 10 different starting quarterbacks, including Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco and Daniel Jones last season.
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It even got so bad in 2025 after Jones’ injury that he reunited with Rivers, who signed in hopes he could help save the season.
Aaron Rodgers (8) of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium on January 4, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
But while some of those guys will likely be headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame one day, there’s no doubting Rodgers’ hopes in Canton and what he brings to a team even if he turns 43 in December.
“Obviously, Aaron is a great player; look at everything he’s done,” Pittman added. “We would love to have him back. At the end of the day, he has to decide for himself.”
Rodgers may not be at the start of the Steelers’ voluntary offseason program, but he is working to stay in shape in preparation for the new season if he decides to return. But there has been radio silence between both sides, according to NFL Network, and there is no expectation of hearing from him before the first round of the draft begins Thursday night.
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While Pittman, the Steelers and the rest of the NFL wait to hear from Rodgers, Will Howard, the team’s sixth-round pick in last year’s draft, is the expected starting quarterback for McCarthy’s team heading into voluntary workouts.
In the meantime, Pittman will continue to enjoy the sports-crazed city he now calls home.
“Being in Pittsburgh, just the feeling of driving, everyone is wearing something sporty. Whether it’s the Steelers, the Pirates or the Penguins,” Pittman explained. “Someone’s wearing something black and gold, which I think is awesome. They love football there. I mean, Indy loves football, too. I’m not taking anything away from Indy fans, but it’s just Pittsburgh; everyone knows Pittsburgh for being Pittsburgh. The Steelers, the fans. The city is located on these rivers. The stadium is right there, the scenery. It’s kind of crazy, and I’m excited to be there and be able to play for them.”
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (11) watches during the NFL football game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 2, 2025 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA. (Mark Alberti/Sportswire Icon)
IMPACTING LOCAL FLAG FOOTBALL WITH TOYOTA
Pittman is always looking to impact his community, especially being in a new city. Following his coaching role during Toyota’s Glow Up Classic during Super Bowl week in San Francisco, Pittman is back with the automaker for a special NFL Draft flag football training camp with Pittsburgh high school flag players on the eve of draft night.
Pittman, along with some NFL Draft prospects and members of the U.S. women’s national flag football team, will don her coaching hat to help coordinate the drills, while providing instruction and mentorship to the girls participating.
And even better, select participants will be chosen to walk the NFL Draft red carpet, as they experience and witness some of football’s best young players fulfill their dream, like Pittman, of hearing their names called in the NFL Draft.
Youth players participate in the Toyota Glow-Up Classic, a glow-in-the-dark flag football exhibition, at the Super Bowl Experience in San Francisco on February 4, 2026. Toyota is providing grants to each youth player for their future in flag football. (Jeff Lewis/AP Content Services for Toyota Motor North America)
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With new national data from Campus Multimedia and YouGov finding that 70% of teens (12-17) want brands that support their school community, this is just another example of how Toyota is making an impact in communities across the country. As an official partner of the NFL FLAG league, which has helped grow the game by reaching more than 300,000 youth players nationwide with more than $3 million in support, Toyota is also purchasing all NFL FLAG fall registration kit fees for current players in the Pittsburgh Flag Football League’s (PFFL) co-ed youth and girls’ high school leagues.
“Our main message to these girls is to get their attention, and I know this is it for them,” Pittman said. “We’re just there to cheer them on and we can still stand up for them and cheer them on and let them know that we’re here to support the women’s flag and we want to make it a recognized sport.”
