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/gHSCtKe 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/gHSCtKe 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/Jb0mcj9 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/Jb0mcj9 class=caas-img>2009: 9-7
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2009: 9-7
" data-src=https://ift.tt/O8ws3Ak 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/O8ws3Ak 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/u0fz8ZA 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/u0fz8ZA class=caas-img>2011: 12-4, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2011: 12-4, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/kuGxdvn 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/kuGxdvn class=caas-img>2012: 8-8
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2012: 8-8
" data-src=https://ift.tt/8j9vRTe 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/8j9vRTe class=caas-img>2013: 8-8
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2013: 8-8
" data-src=https://ift.tt/b1Dzhuf 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/b1Dzhuf class=caas-img>2014: 11-5, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2014: 11-5, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/dUch8Jw 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/dUch8Jw class=caas-img>2015: 10-6, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2015: 10-6, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/ikIGw7T 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/ikIGw7T 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/EohktOf 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/EohktOf class=caas-img>2017: 13-3, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2017: 13-3, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/pfCZsLx 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/pfCZsLx class=caas-img>2018: 9-6-1
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2018: 9-6-1
" data-src=https://ift.tt/L3vCIah 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/L3vCIah class=caas-img>2019: 8-8
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2019: 8-8
" data-src=https://ift.tt/gxItobe 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/gxItobe class=caas-img>2020: 12-4, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2020: 12-4, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/DV3c6JE 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/DV3c6JE class=caas-img>2021: 9-7-1, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2021: 9-7-1, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/d26H7Wa 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/d26H7Wa class=caas-img>2022: 9-8
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2022: 9-8
" data-src=https://ift.tt/kLWrB7e 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/kLWrB7e class=caas-img>2023: 10-7, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2023: 10-7, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/RBtFfre 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/RBtFfre class=caas-img>2024: 10-7, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2024: 10-7, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/UWe35Z6 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/UWe35Z6 class=caas-img>2025: 10-7, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2025: 10-7, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/wM3CgTJ 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/wM3CgTJ 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 12:27AM on Source: RED MAG
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