Aaron Rodgers agrees to one-year Steelers deal worth up to $25M

Aaron Rodgers has agreed to a one-year contract to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers, ending a protracted decision-making process, according to two people with knowledge of the decision.

The people spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. The contract includes a base salary of between $22 million and $23 million and is worth up to $25 million with incentives, ESPN and NFL Network reported Saturday.

The 42-year-old quarterback guided Pittsburgh to an AFC North title last season, throwing for 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He embraced playing for a team with deep football roots, similar to his earlier tenure in Green Bay, and now will be a Steeler for his 22nd and possibly final season.

Rodgers reunites with former Packers coach Mike McCarthy, who was hired to lead the Steelers in January after Mike Tomlin stepped down following 19 seasons.

Rodgers and McCarthy spent 13 seasons together in Green Bay, where Rodgers blossomed into one of the game’s biggest stars after becoming the starting quarterback in 2008. The Packers won their fourth Super Bowl, and Rodgers earned two of his four MVP awards with McCarthy calling the plays.

The Steelers made clear they would welcome Rodgers back, though artificial deadlines—the start of free agency in March and the NFL draft last month—passed without his signing.

The club placed an unrestricted free agent tender on Rodgers, a paperwork move that gave the Steelers protection should Rodgers have signed with another team before training camp opened in late July.

It remains uncertain if a market for Rodgers existed, but that is now moot. A year ago, he waited until early June to join the Steelers and then spent more than seven months embracing the experience, earning praise from teammates for his buy-in and leadership.

Rodgers joins a quarterback room that expanded while he deliberated. The Steelers selected Penn State’s Drew Allar in the third round of the draft, joining veteran Mason Rudolph and Will Howard, a sixth-round choice in 2025.

While the question surrounding Rodgers seemed less about if he would re-sign than when, it remains uncertain when he might take the field with his teammates. Pittsburgh begins organized team activities on May 18.