Behind the Steel Curtain
The Pittsburgh Steelers are facing significant uncertainty at both head coach and quarterback heading into the 2026 season.
Following the Steelers’ Wild Card round loss to the Houston Texans, quarterback Aaron Rodgers was noncommittal about his playing future, saying he did not want to make “an emotional decision” regarding a potential return next season. That uncertainty has only intensified in the wake of Mike Tomlin’s resignation as head coach.
Tomlin’s departure prompted widespread speculation that Rodgers’ tenure in Pittsburgh could be short-lived, as the veteran quarterback had previously indicated that the opportunity to play under the long-tenured coach was a major factor in his decision to join the Steelers.
Steelers president Art Rooney II appeared to reinforce that notion during his press conference on Tuesday.
“Aaron came here to play for Mike,” Rooney said. “So I think it’ll most likely affect his decision.”
Rodgers, who previously stated before the 2025 season that it would “most likely” be his final year in the NFL, stopped short of confirming whether he intends to continue his career. With Tomlin no longer at the helm, the organization now faces the real possibility of needing to replace both its head coach and starting quarterback in the same offseason.
The Steelers are expected to begin an extensive search for Tomlin’s successor in the coming weeks, and he, along with GM Omar Khan, will likely be tasked with finding a new signal-caller for the black and gold, yet again.
