Steelers president: Mike Tomlin stepping down likely affects Aaron Rodgers' plan Michael MiddlehurstSchwartz, USA TODAYJanuary 14, 2026 at 7:53 PM 5 Steelers president: Mike Tomlin stepping down likely affects Aaron Rodgers' plan Mike Tomlin's decision to step down might be the first of several major offseason changes for the Pittsburgh Steelers. One day after Tomlin opted to end his 19year run as the franchise's coach, Steelers president Art Rooney II indicated that he believes quarterback Aaron Rodgers won't be back with the team in 2026.
- - Steelers president: Mike Tomlin stepping down likely affects Aaron Rodgers' plan
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAYJanuary 14, 2026 at 7:53 PM
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Steelers president: Mike Tomlin stepping down likely affects Aaron Rodgers' plan
Mike Tomlin's decision to step down might be the first of several major offseason changes for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
One day after Tomlin opted to end his 19-year run as the franchise's coach, Steelers president Art Rooney II indicated that he believes quarterback Aaron Rodgers won't be back with the team in 2026.
"Aaron came here to play for Mike," Rooney said in a news conference. "So I think it will most likely affect his decision."
Rodgers, 42, signed a one-year contract with the Steelers in June, citing Tomlin as a driving factor in his decision to link up with the team after a tumultuous two-year run with the New York Jets. The four-time NFL MVP said shortly after reaching his contract that he was "pretty sure" that 2025 would be his final season, but in late December he left open the possibility of playing on – whether in Pittsburgh or elsewhere.
2007: 10-6, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2007: 10-6, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/KlnqyEP class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 of his Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2007: 10-6, reached playoffs
">2007: 10-6, reached playoffs
" src=https://ift.tt/KlnqyEP class=caas-img>2008: 12-4, won Super Bowl 43
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2008: 12-4, won Super Bowl 43
" data-src=https://ift.tt/Con8ctk class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 of his Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2008: 12-4, won Super Bowl 43
">2008: 12-4, won Super Bowl 43
" src=https://ift.tt/Con8ctk class=caas-img>2009: 9-7
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2009: 9-7
" data-src=https://ift.tt/ubaVOCX class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 of his Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2009: 9-7
">2009: 9-7
" src=https://ift.tt/ubaVOCX class=caas-img>2010: 12-4, reached Super Bowl 45
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2010: 12-4, reached Super Bowl 45
" data-src=https://ift.tt/gMBY5S8 class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 of his Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2010: 12-4, reached Super Bowl 45
">2010: 12-4, reached Super Bowl 45
" src=https://ift.tt/gMBY5S8 class=caas-img>2011: 12-4, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2011: 12-4, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/MqxY3b2 class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 of his Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2011: 12-4, reached playoffs
">2011: 12-4, reached playoffs
" src=https://ift.tt/MqxY3b2 class=caas-img>2012: 8-8
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2012: 8-8
" data-src=https://ift.tt/nM6qb39 class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 of his Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2012: 8-8
">2012: 8-8
" src=https://ift.tt/nM6qb39 class=caas-img>2013: 8-8
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2013: 8-8
" data-src=https://ift.tt/UdjVwyE class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 of his Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2013: 8-8
">2013: 8-8
" src=https://ift.tt/UdjVwyE class=caas-img>2014: 11-5, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2014: 11-5, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/kdSJMwz class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 of his Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2014: 11-5, reached playoffs
">2014: 11-5, reached playoffs
" src=https://ift.tt/kdSJMwz class=caas-img>2015: 10-6, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2015: 10-6, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/heVysrG class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 of his Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2015: 10-6, reached playoffs
">2015: 10-6, reached playoffs
" src=https://ift.tt/heVysrG class=caas-img>2016: 11-5, reached AFC Championship Game
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2016: 11-5, reached AFC Championship Game
" data-src=https://ift.tt/gq1xYjm class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 of his Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2016: 11-5, reached AFC Championship Game
">2016: 11-5, reached AFC Championship Game
" src=https://ift.tt/gq1xYjm class=caas-img>2017: 13-3, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2017: 13-3, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/wPRJZQi class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 of his Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2017: 13-3, reached playoffs
">2017: 13-3, reached playoffs
" src=https://ift.tt/wPRJZQi class=caas-img>2018: 9-6-1
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2018: 9-6-1
" data-src=https://ift.tt/KwecAoH class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 of his Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2018: 9-6-1
">2018: 9-6-1
" src=https://ift.tt/KwecAoH class=caas-img>2019: 8-8
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2019: 8-8
" data-src=https://ift.tt/3ezYg0D class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 of his Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2019: 8-8
">2019: 8-8
" src=https://ift.tt/3ezYg0D class=caas-img>2020: 12-4, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2020: 12-4, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/pKzcAJY class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 of his Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2020: 12-4, reached playoffs
">2020: 12-4, reached playoffs
" src=https://ift.tt/pKzcAJY class=caas-img>2021: 9-7-1, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2021: 9-7-1, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/94VzUkv class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 of his Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2021: 9-7-1, reached playoffs
">2021: 9-7-1, reached playoffs
" src=https://ift.tt/94VzUkv class=caas-img>2022: 9-8
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2022: 9-8
" data-src=https://ift.tt/lI7DviE class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 of his Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2022: 9-8
">2022: 9-8
" src=https://ift.tt/lI7DviE class=caas-img>2023: 10-7, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2023: 10-7, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/akQwnEX class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 of his Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2023: 10-7, reached playoffs
">2023: 10-7, reached playoffs
" src=https://ift.tt/akQwnEX class=caas-img>2024: 10-7, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2024: 10-7, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/9bZXtwq class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 of his Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2024: 10-7, reached playoffs
">2024: 10-7, reached playoffs
" src=https://ift.tt/9bZXtwq class=caas-img>2025: 10-7, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2025: 10-7, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/M9q0HzJ class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 of his Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2025: 10-7, reached playoffs
">2025: 10-7, reached playoffs
" src=https://ift.tt/M9q0HzJ class=caas-img>
1 / 19Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 of his Steelers seasons
2007: 10-6, reached playoffs
"I'm thinking about this week, but obviously I'm 42 years old and I'm on a one-year deal," Rodgers said. "So you know what the situation is. Whenever the season ends, I'll be a free agent. So that'll give me a lot of options if I still want to play. I mean, not a lot of options, but there'll be options, I would think, maybe one or two, if I decide I still want to play."
After a season-ending wild-card loss to the Houston Texans on Monday, Rodgers said he would take his time while weighing retirement against returning for a 22nd season.
"I'm not going to make any emotional decisions at this point," Rodgers said. "Such a fun year. A lot of adversity, but a lot of fun. Been a great year overall in my life in the last year, and this is a really good part of that, coming here and being a part of this team. So it's disappointing to be sitting here with the season over."
The Steelers currently have Mason Rudolph and 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard as the only quarterbacks under contract with the team.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mike Tomlin's move likely affects Aaron Rodgers' decision, Rooney says
Source: "AOL Sports"
Source: Sports
Published: January 15, 2026 at 01:27AM on Source: ANDY MAG
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