Quarterbacks: Will Howard, Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson
What Aaron Rodgers had left in the tank at the end of a season during which he had turned 42 was on display during the fourth quarter if the Steelers' winner-take-all, regular-season finale against Baltimore.
The Steelers trailed, 17-13, with 8:42 left in regulation when they gained possession at their 40-yard line. Rodgers promptly drive them 60 yards in eight plays, going 4-for-4 passing for 43 yards in the process, for the touchdown that produced a 20-17 lead. The pivotal play on the march was a third-and-8 strike to tight end Pat Freiermuth for 31 yards to the Ravens' 5.
When the Steelers next gained possession they were trailing again, 24-20, with 2:20 remaining in the fourth quarter. This time, Rodgers engineered a six-play, 65-yard drive that culminated in a 26-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Calvin Austin III and, ultimately, the AFC North Division championship.
Any questions?
New head coach Mike McCarthy was emphatic when asked at his introductory press conference if, in his best-case-scenario, he wanted Rodgers back in 2026.
"I don't see why you wouldn't," McCarthy said.
McCarthy doubled down during a subsequent interview with the DVE Morning Show on the flagship station of the Steelers Audio Network, WDVE-FM.
"I hope he's coming back," McCarthy maintained. "When you look at the way he's still able to play, he'll be able to throw the football when he's 70 years old. He's remarkably gifted in his ball placement. Just having a chance to watch most of the games, I just was so impressed with how he still throws it. And having a chance to look at some practice tape, he's still doing it every day.
"Being comfortable with the offensive players, especially your perimeter guys, we have a chance to be a year improved on what was established this past year."
Rodgers completed 327 of 498 passes (65.7 percent) for 3,322 yards, with 24 touchdown passes, seven interceptions and a passer rating of 94.8, 10th-best among quarterbacks listed in the NFL's weekly statistics report.
The Steelers went 10-6 in Rodgers' 16 regular-season starts.
Rodgers hasn't said whether he wants to play another season.
"This is normal for him this time of year," McCarthy said. "This has been my experience with Aaron, and something that I always encouraged him to do, even in his younger years in Green Bay. It's important for really all these guys to get away.
"There's definitely a decompressing component of playing a season, competing through a season. You know the Super Bowl is really, kinda the Monday afterwards, I think emotionally, for all of us, is when the page truly gets turned onto the new year.
"I think Aaron's just going through his process and evaluating what he wants to do moving forward."
Mason Rudolph started the one game Rodgers didn't, a 31-28 loss on Nov. 23 at Chicago. Rudolph, a sixth-year pro, has compiled records of 8-5-1 as a starter in his five seasons with the Steelers and 1-4 in his one season with the Titans (2024). Rudolph's Steelers resume includes beating the Bengals, Seahawks and Ravens in succession and ushering the Steelers into the playoffs at the conclusion of the 2023 regular season.
Skylar Thompson excelled in the preseason but spent the regular season on the Reserve/Injured list.
Thompson went 1-2 for the Dolphins in three career starts (two in 2022 and one in 2023).
Thompson and Rudolph are both 0-1 as postseason starters (Rudolph at Buffalo in 2023 and Thompson at Buffalo in 2024).
Sixth-round pick Will Howard was placed on the Reserve/Injured list on Aug. 28 and wasn't activated until Nov. 12. He hasn't taken a preseason snap but he has McCarthy's attention.
"I'm real excited about Will Howard," McCarthy said. "I'm anxious to work with him.
"It will be great to have Aaron back, but Will and Mason, I'm really excited to get started with those guys."
