Steelers waiting on Rodgers’ decision as Pittman settles into Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Steelers still await Aaron Rodgers’ decision on 2026 NFL season; Will he play, or is retirement finally beckoning the four-time MVP?

Head coach Mike McCarthy, his former leader with the Steelers and Green Bay Packers, continues to wait patiently, as does one of the newest players in the building: wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr.

“I hope it’s close,” Pittman told Fox News Digital in a recent interview with Toyota at the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.

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Pittman came to Pittsburgh earlier this season after the Indianapolis Colts reached an agreement with the Steelers to send the seven-year player east. As Pittman continues to settle in, he’s already starting to hear the question: Will Rodgers return?

“I don’t know anything; people think we know things. Why would Aaron tell me anything?” he said, laughing.

Pittman said he’s “not too worried about it” from a personal standpoint, considering his time in Indianapolis was filled with quarterback turnover. Pittman played for 10 different starting quarterbacks during his tenure with the Colts, including Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco and Daniel Jones.

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In fact, the situation got so bad after Jones’ injury in 2025 that he was reunited with Rivers, who signed him in hopes he could help salvage the season.

Aaron Rodgers (8) of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on during the national anthem before the NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)

But while some of these guys will probably go to the Pro Football Hall of Fame one day, there’s no doubting what Rodgers will bring to Canton’s prospects and the team, even if he turns 43 in December.

“Obviously Aaron is a great player; look at everything he’s done,” Pittman added. “We’d love to have him back. At the end of the day, he has to decide that for himself.”

Rodgers may not be at the start of the Steelers’ voluntary offseason program, but he is working out to stay in shape in preparation for the new season should he decide to return. But according to NFL Network, there is radio silence between both parties and they are not expected to hear from him before the first round of the draft begins on Thursday night.

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While Pittman, the Steelers and the rest of the NFL wait to hear from Rodgers, Will Howard, the team’s sixth-round pick in last year’s draft, is expected to be the first quarterback on McCarthy’s team to volunteer for workouts.

In the meantime, Pittman will continue to enjoy the sports-crazy city he now calls home.

“When you’re in Pittsburgh, with the feel of driving around, everyone is wearing something sporty. Either Steelers, Pirates, or Penguins,” Pittman explained. “Someone’s wearing black and gold, which I think is great. They love the football there. I mean, Indy loves football, too. I’m not taking anything away from the Indy fans, but it’s just Pittsburgh; everyone knows Pittsburgh as Pittsburgh. The Steelers, the fans. The town is built on these rivers. The stadium is right there, the view. It’s crazy, and I’m excited to be there and be able to play for them.”

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (11) looks at the NFL football game between the Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on November 2, 2025. (Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire)

IMPACTING LOCAL FLAG FOOTBALL WITH TOYOTA

Pittman is always trying to impress his community, especially when he’s in a new city. Following his coaching role at Toyota’s Glow Up Classic during Super Bowl week in San Francisco, Pittman returned with the automotive manufacturer for a special NFL Draft flag football training camp featuring Pittsburgh high school girls flag players on the eve of draft night.

Pittman, along with some NFL Draft prospects and members of the U.S. Women’s National Flag Football team, will don her coaching hat to help coordinate practices and provide instruction and guidance to the participating girls.

Even better, participants will be selected to walk the NFL Draft Red Carpet as we witness some of the best young players in football, like Pittman, realize their dreams of hearing their names called in the NFL Draft.

Young players participate in the Toyota Glow-Up Classic, a glow-in-the-dark flag football display at the Super Bowl Experience in San Francisco on February 4, 2026. Toyota provides grants to every young player for the future of flag football. (Jeff Lewis/AP Content Services for Toyota Motor North America)

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New national data from Campus Multimedia and YouGov reveals 70% of teens (12-17) want brands that support their school communities; This is another example of how Toyota is making an impact in communities across the country. As the official partner of NFL FLAG league play, which has helped grow the game by reaching more than 300,000 youth players nationwide and providing over $3 million in support, Toyota is also purchasing all NFL FLAG fall registration set fees for current players in the Pittsburgh Flag Football League (PFFL) co-ed youth and high school girls leagues.

“Our main message to these girls is to be the center of attention, and I know this is all for them,” Pittman said. “We’re just there to encourage them and still be able to support them and lift them up and let them know that we’re here to support the girls’ flag and that we want to make it a recognized sport.”

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