The Green Bay Packers may be facing a great deal of uncertainty in multiple facets of their coaching staff and roster, but one position that they absolutely do not need to worry about is starting quarterback. Jordan Love had the best year of his career in 2025 and appears to be on pace for a long and successful career under center in Green Bay. And while the Packers still need a quality backup (as Malik Willis will leave in free agency), having a franchise quarterback is one of the most important things an NFL franchise can have.
Of course, Green Bay has been fortunate to have a franchise quarterback for the better part of the last three decades. Love’s predecessor, Aaron Rodgers, spent 18 years with the Packers, with 15 of them being as the starting quarterback.
Rodgers, who has since played for the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers, is 42 and unsure of his NFL future. But if he does want to play in 2026, he is likely going to need to find a different team.
Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers may play elsewhere in 2026, if he plays at all
As fans around the NFL are aware, Mike Tomlin stepped down as head coach of the Steelers this week after 19 years on the job. Pittsburgh, who has had just three head coaches since 1969, will now be conducting a rare search for the next leader of their franchise.
And while Rodgers had expressed interest in returning to the Steelers in 2026 if he decided to play at all, it sounds like it was because Tomlin was going to be there, and ownership now believes their now-former head coach’s decision to step down means that Rodgers will not return either:
“Aaron came here to play for Mike. So it would most likely affect his decision.”
Sounds like #Steelers President Art Rooney believes Aaron Rodgers has played his last down in Pittsburgh.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 14, 2026
As he is 42 years old, it is more than possible that the former Packers quarterback decides to call it a career. He is a future Pro Football Hall of Famer, after all, with nothing left to prove, especially after his solid season in Pittsburgh.
But if he does decide to come back for another year in 2026, it sounds like he will be donning yet another uniform.
More Green Bay Packers news from Wisconsin Sports Heroics
- Matt LaFleur chimes in on Josh Jacobs’ fumbled kick return in Packers loss to Bears
- Packers’ Brandon McManus hit with backlash after comments on embarrassing performance vs Bears
- Matt LaFleur breaks silence after Packers suffer crushing loss to Bears
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!
