Now that’s more like it.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are re-signing Aaron Rodgers to a one-year deal, according to multiple reports. It’s a move that will solidify the starting quarterback spot for a team that had been lacking one all offseason. Now the room is no longer incomplete for Mike McCarthy’s new team.
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It’ll be a similar look for the Steelers in 2026, who have a pair of familiar faces to play behind the four-time NFL MVP.
Rodgers’ decision to return for a 22nd NFL season ensures that the Steelers won’t have to move forward with Mason Rudolph or some unproven option as the starting quarterback. More importantly, Pittsburgh projected a message all offseason that they were all-in on Rodgers, considering the Steelers let him dictate everything.
As free agents came off the board, it limited options for the team in a year that didn’t have many to begin with. On the bright side for the 2026 Steelers, Plan B is now something that only exists in an alternate timeline.
Here’s a look at the updated depth chart in Pittsburgh.
Steelers QB depth chart
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Rodgers is the obvious headliner atop the Steelers’ depth chart since he almost certainly wouldn’t return to be a backup.
As things currently stand, Rudolph projects as the backup. He is a veteran with starting experience that has proven to be serviceable in the past.
He will slide in ahead of Howard, who was a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Allar rounds out the room after the Steelers invested a third-round pick in former Penn State quarterback during the 2026 NFL Draft. He might end up as the biggest winner from the Steelers re-signing Rodgers. Allar has all the tools to become a quality quarterback, even if his development slowed in college.
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Perhaps the ability to learn behind Rodgers could unlock the prospect that was once projected to be a high draft pick. It would be similar to the strategy previously employed by the Green Bay Packers, but with less time to grow as a player.
At the very least, the depth chart is in a much better place than it was earlier in the offseason.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aaron Rodgers re-signs: Updated Steelers quarterback depth chart
