PITTSBURGH — Art Rooney II is done waiting. The Pittsburgh Steelers owner officially set a deadline for Aaron Rodgers to decide whether he will return for his 22nd NFL season or retire. Rooney expects an answer before the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft begins on April 23.
The standard Rodgers off-season drama typically stretches into the summer heat, but Rooney is pulling the plug on the mystery early. Speaking with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Rooney made his expectations clear. The 42-year-old quarterback has less than three weeks to decide if he wants to lead the offense again or hang up his cleats for good. Last year, Rodgers didn’t put pen to paper until June. Pittsburgh isn’t willing to let the calendar slide that far again, especially with the draft being held right in their own backyard this year.
Rodgers proved he still has gas in the tank during the 2025-26 campaign. He posted 3,322 passing yards and 24 touchdowns while completing 65.7% of his throws. Despite his age, he moved the chains and kept the Steelers in the playoff hunt. However, the uncertainty at the most important position on the field has paralyzed the front office’s ability to plan for the future. The stadium air feels heavy as fans and staff alike wait for the future Hall of Famer to blink.
“I would by the draft. I expect an answer.”— Art Rooney II, Pittsburgh Steelers Owner
As of today, the Steelers’ depth chart is thin. Veteran Mason Rudolph and 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard are the only active quarterbacks on the roster. Howard spent most of his rookie year on IR with a hand injury, meaning the Steelers have almost zero proven depth behind the “what if” of Aaron Rodgers. If Rodgers walks, the Steelers are almost forced to aggressivey hunt for a signal-caller in the first round.
The front office has flirted with drafting a franchise quarterback since Kenny Pickett in 2022, but they haven’t pulled the trigger on a top-tier prospect since. Rooney’s deadline serves a dual purpose: it respects Rodgers’ legendary career while protecting the team’s ability to pivot. If the 2026 draft starts without a word from Rodgers, expect the Steelers to be the most active team on the trade phones. The fans are restless, the owner has spoken, and now the ball is entirely in Rodgers’ court.
