Sports Illustrated ranked the Pittsburgh Steelers' Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers pairing 21st among NFL coach-quarterback duos. The assessment came one day before the June 1 start of the 2026 league year.
Matt Verderame placed the duo at No. 21 after evaluating all 32 pairings. He noted McCarthy as the 16th-ranked head coach and Rodgers as the 20th-ranked quarterback. The ranking represents a 15-spot drop from last season when the Mike Tomlin and Aaron Rodgers combination sat at No. 6.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers announced on Wednesday that the upcoming season will mark the end of his 22-year NFL career. The four-time MVP made the declaration during organized team activities, expressing excitement about reuniting with head coach Mike McCarthy.
Analyst Nate Tice voiced doubts about the upcoming reunion of Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tice highlighted concerns over the offense's quick timing approach. He noted the team's lack of playmakers last season.
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NFL records show that head coach and quarterback reunions have rarely succeeded in the past. Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy now prepare for their own second chapter together.
A Pittsburgh Post-Gazette beat writer says the Steelers would have selected Mike McCarthy as head coach regardless of any suggestion from quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The team completed the hiring after Rodgers returned to the roster following Mike Tomlin's departure.
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Aaron Rodgers returns for a second year with the Pittsburgh Steelers in what he has said will be his last NFL season. Recent evaluations from analysts and Pro Football Focus have placed him outside the top tier of quarterbacks. The 42-year-old is ranked No. 22 among starting signal-callers by PFF for 2026.
The Pittsburgh Steelers placed an unrestricted free agent tender on 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers on April 28, 2026—shortly after the NFL's April 27 deadline—a seldom-used move (six times league-wide in the past decade) to secure a potential 2027 compensatory draft pick if he signs elsewhere. Owner Art Rooney II and head coach Mike McCarthy downplayed its impact on ongoing re-signing talks, expecting a deal soon despite Rodgers' indecision and speculation about other teams.
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Former NFL scout John Middlekauff believes Mike McCarthy can lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to a strong regular season record if given the right roster and quarterback.