"The door’s open”: Pittsburgh Steelers GM addresses Aaron Rodgers future amid franchise QB search

The Pittsburgh Steelers have not closed the book on Aaron Rodgers' future talks. General manager Omar Khan made that clear on February 24 at the NFL Combine. Pittsburgh wants Rodgers back.

At the same time, the front office continues its search for a long-term quarterback as Aaron Rodgers' retirement rumors swirl.Rodgers, 42, signed a one-year $13.6 million deal in 2025 and delivered a 10-7 record with an AFC North title. He threw for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns with seven interceptions in 16 starts. The run ended with a wild-card loss to the Houston Texans. Since then, his future has remained unclear.

Pittsburgh waits on Aaron Rodgers but eyes draft and young QBs

Pittsburgh GM Omar Khan confirmed ongoing contact with Rodgers while speaking to reporters in Indianapolis.“The door’s open to have Aaron back. I’ve had conversations with him,” Khan said on February 24 at the NFL Combine, via NFL.com. “He’s a free agent, and he’s not on the roster, but he knows how we feel about him.”The message is simple. The Steelers want him. But they also want clarity soon. On February 25, Adam Schefter shared fresh insight on The Adam Schefter Podcast about Rodgers’ timeline.

“The belief around the league is that he’s supposed to give an answer by mid-March,” Schefter said on The Adam Schefter Podcast on February 25. “Many people thought there was no chance he’d be back, but it certainly sounds like it’s a consideration. The feeling is that he could be back with the Pittsburgh Steelers.”

That mid-March window lines up with the start of NFL free agency. Rodgers said after the playoff loss in January that he would not make an emotional decision.

So Pittsburgh waits, but not idly. The Steelers hold the No. 21 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson has drawn buzz as a possible target. The team also wants to evaluate Will Howard, who missed preseason action last year due to injury. Veteran Mason Rudolph provides depth.Khan addressed that bigger goal at the Combine: “Like all the fans, we’re searching for the next franchise player,” he said. “It might be Will. We’re excited to work with him.”So the picture stands clear. The door is open for Rodgers. The clock is moving. And the Steelers refuse to let their future hinge on a single decision.