The decision on Aaron Rodgers' future in Pittsburgh appears to be in the hands of the 42-year-old Steelers quarterback.

Asked if he'd like to see Rodgers return for a second season in the Steel City, Pittsburgh's new coach Mike McCarthy enthusiastically embraced the idea. 

'Definitely,' McCarthy told reporters at his introductory press conference on Tuesday. 'I don't see why you wouldn't.'

McCarthy is obviously familiar with his game. The 62-year-old Pittsburgh native started Rodgers for 172 regular and postseason games during their 11 years together in Green Bay, winning the Packers' fourth Super Bowl title along the way. And with some spare time following his 2024 dismissal in Dallas, McCarthy spent much of the year following the 10-7 Steelers.

'I watched most of the Pittsburgh games on TV,' McCarthy said, 'and I thought he was a great asset for the team.'

Although he began the 2025 season suggesting it could be his last in the NFL, Rodgers has not ruled out a return to Pittsburgh, where he enjoyed his first playoff berth since being traded from Green Bay to the New York Jets in 2024.

When asked about his future in Pittsburgh following the team's season-ending playoff defeat to the Houston Texans, Rodgers spoke at length about how much he enjoyed playing for then-head coach Mike Tomlin.

It's unclear how a potential reunion with McCarthy would impact his decision, but Rodgers is getting some space to think, his once and, possibly, future coach explained Tuesday.

'I think just like anything, knowing Aaron long enough, going through seasons… when guys are up at that stage of their career, they need to step away and decompress. I think that's very important. The game is so emotional. What these men commit to and what they put into it. I think that time away is important.

'And I have spoken to Aaron, and so that's really where we are there. But I was able to sit back and watch the games.'

Rodgers wasn't his former MVP self in 2025, but he proved effective down the stretch as Pittsburgh won four of its last five to quality for the playoffs. For the year, Rodgers passed for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns while completing 65.7 percent of his passes on the year and surrendering just seven interceptions.