Mike McCarthy Reacts to Aaron Rodgers Attending Steelers OTAs

The Pittsburgh Steelers have undergone major changes this offseason after longtime head coach Mike Tomlin stepped down.

With Mike McCarthy now taking over as head coach, one of the biggest questions surrounding the early part of the offseason was whether veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers would return.

Rodgers ultimately made it official on Monday when he arrived at the Steelers' facility early in the morning and signed a one-year deal to remain in Pittsburgh at age 42, turning 43 in December.

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He since bought in fully, showing up for voluntary OTAs this week, with his presence reportedly having a strong impact on the rest of the team, according to McCarthy.

"This is the most important part of the offseason - the OTA work. There's so much work that needs to get done in Year 1," McCarthy said.

On Rodgers' presence, he added, "Clearly what it means, you see the reaction in the building - players, coaching staff, everyone was extremely excited when the decision became official."

Rodgers proved last year he can still play at a high level, completing 65.7% of his passes for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, while leading the team to the postseason despite a lack of offensive weapons outside of DK Metcalf and a solid rushing attack featuring Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell.

Now, Pittsburgh has not only brought back Metcalf, but also added Michael Pittman Jr., who can serve as a clear No. 2 wide receiver on the depth chart, along with running back Rico Dowdle, who is coming off a career year with the Carolina Panthers.

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This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 2:15 PM.