Steelers make Aaron Rodgers signing official after five-month wait

No surprises here. Aaron Rodgers is going to be a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2026.

Rodgers, 42, put pen to paper on May 18 to make his new one-year deal with the Steelers official, the team announced in a press release. The signing puts an official end to the five months of some uncertainty in Pittsburgh. Despite all indications pointing to a likely reunion with the Steelers and head coach Mike McCarthy, Rodgers was once again mulling retirement in the early offseason after playing his 21st season last year.

On May 16, multiple reports emerged that Rodgers had decided to return to the Steel City on another one-year deal worth up to $25 million. Now that it's official, his new deal makes him the NFL's oldest active quarterback once again as he readies for his 22nd season.

Rodgers has already started his reintegration into the Steelers' offense. About 30 minutes after Pittsburgh officially announced he had signed his new contract, the veteran was on the practice field for the team's organized team activities (OTAs). May 18 marked the first of 10 organized OTAs for the Steelers this year, all of which are optional.

Pittsburgh's mandatory minicamp will run from June 2-4.

"He's extremely focused and locked in," said Steelers quarterbacks coach Tom Arth in a statement. "He's such a competitive player, but he has so much fun playing the game. And that's what I really enjoy about Aaron.

"He loves playing this game. He plays the game like he's still 10 years old running around in the backyard."

Arth, who was Rodgers' teammate on the Packers in 2006, also praised the veteran quarterback's "ferocious competitive spirit" and "off the charts" football IQ.

Aaron Rodgers contract details

• Term: One year
• Value: Up to $25 million
• AAV: $25 million
• Guaranteed money: $22 million

According to NFL Media's Tom Pelissero, Rodgers' new deal with the Steelers includes $22 million in guarantees. Last year, the veteran quarterback made $13.65 million in salary, according to Spotrac. So Rodgers' new contract with the Steelers includes a raise worth at least $8.35 million and could surpass $10 million after he led the team to 10 wins and a playoff berth last season.

Aaron Rodgers 2025 stats

Rodgers started 16 of the Steelers' 17 games last year – he missed out on playing the Bears because of a hand injury – in his 21st season in the NFL. Here's how his stats looked in his age-42 season:

• Completion rate: 327-of-498 (65.7%)
• Passing yards: 3,322
• Passing TDs: 24
• INTs: 7
• Yards per attempt: 6.7
• Passer rating: 94.8
• Rushing: 21 attempts for 61 yards (2.9 yards per carry) and one touchdown

Rodgers was also among the quarterbacks with the shortest average depth of target (ADOT) in 2025. His ADOT of 6.6 yards was the lowest of any quarterback with at least 200 pass attempts and also marked the lowest of his career, per Pro Football Focus.

The veteran quarterback did not throw nearly as many passes 10+ yards downfield as he did close to – and often behind – the line of scrimmage in 2025.

Aaron Rogers career stats

Despite a relative statistical decline over the past few seasons, Rodgers' numbers paint the picture of a likely future Hall of Famer. Here's his career stats heading into season 22:

• Completion rate: 5,696-of-8,743 (65.1%)
• Passing yards: 66,274
• Passing TDs: 527
• INTs: 123
• Yards per attempt: 7.6
• Passer rating: 102.2
• Rushing: 762 attempts for 3,634 yards (4.8 yards per carry) and 36 touchdowns

Rodgers is currently the active leader in completions, passing yards and passing touchdowns. He's also on pace to finish his career as the all-time leader in career interception percentage (1.4%) and passer rating.

How old is Aaron Rodgers?

Rodgers is 42 years old. Since his birthday is in December, the Steelers' quarterback will be 43 years old by the time the regular season wraps up in early January 2027.

Rodgers is the oldest active quarterback in the NFL but he is sixth all-time among quarterbacks to have started a game. Tom Brady (17 starts at 45 years old) is the oldest starting quarterback in history. George Blanda (three pass attempts at 48) is the oldest quarterback to appear in a game.

Aaron Rodgers career timeline

• Green Bay Packers (2005-22)
• New York Jets (2023-24)
• Pittsburgh Steelers (2025-present)

Rodgers spent the first 18 years of his career in Green Bay, where he won four NFL MVP awards, earned 10 Pro Bowl nods and was named Super Bowl 45 MVP in a Packers victory over the Steelers. Since then, he has played 18 games for the Jets and 16 games for Pittsburgh.

All-time, Rodgers has a 163-93-1 career record as a starter across the three teams he's played for.