Video Can the Steelers Afford to Keep Waiting on Aaron Rodgers? | The Herd Colin Cowherd sounds off on Aaron Rodgers’ prolonged silence, questioning how long the Pittsburgh Steelers can afford to wait while their season plans hang in limbo.
NFL clubs have been told by the NFL that the Pittsburgh Steelers have placed a right-of-first-refusal tender on Aaron Rodgers and that, while he remains free to sign with any club, the team now retains the right to match any offer he gets from another team.
The right-of-first refusal tender also means Rodgers can accept a 10% raise off of last year's $13.65 million salary which means he'd make approximately $15 million with the club this season.
One more thing: The tender means the Steelers would receive the exclusive right to sign Rodgers if he does not sign elsewhere before July 22 or the first scheduled day of training camp, whichever is later.
Aaron Rodgers of the Pittsburgh Steelers warms up before the AFC Wild Card playoff game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Jan. 12, 2026. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
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Finally, this means the Steelers are taking a much more official and businesslike approach to dealing with their erstwhile starter than the cordial and seemingly familiar manner the dynamic has taken the past 16 months -- with coach Mike McCarthy engaging the quarterback in conversations on a regular basis, following a similar path to what Mike Tomlin used a year ago to land Rodgers.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers reacts on the field before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Acrisure Stadium on Oct. 26, 2025. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)
One more thing: This raises the possibility the Steelers are concerned Rodgers is considering going to another team at some point and are putting the mechanisms in place to keep that from happening or get compensation in return if it does.
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The last part is, of course, speculation because neither Rodgers nor the Steelers have revealed the details of their conversations. And Rodgers has not said if he is eyeing a potential move to another team, either now or during the season.
But it cannot be denied that May is almost here and he hasn't signed with the Steelers.
Everyone in the Pittsburgh organization with any say -- owner Art Rooney II, general manager Omar Khan in particular -- have said they expected the Rodgers decision to come much quicker this year than it did last year. Last year, Rodgers didn't sign with the Steelers until June, just in time for mandatory minicamp.
Aaron Rodgers of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after an NFL game against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Jan. 4, 2026. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
So, has Rodgers hinted or outright told the Steelers he's going to wait to sign much, much later? As in after the season begins? Injuries sometimes happen during training camp and the regular season, so perhaps Rodgers has a timetable that could fit that possibility.
The idea of Rodgers possibly considering some other club is intriguing because not many other clubs have openings like the Steelers do right now.
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Pittsburgh is a playoff-caliber club with a veteran coach familiar to Rodgers that runs a system Rodgers knows. The Steelers are also holding an open starter job for Rodgers.
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But Rodgers, who isn't a fan of offseason workout programs at a time he could be vacationing and enjoying his family, may have decided his timeline for starting work is after the season begins.
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