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/8KtRbT6 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/8KtRbT6 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/eSYvRdD 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/eSYvRdD class=caas-img>2009: 9-7
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2009: 9-7
" data-src=https://ift.tt/IzBcnta 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/IzBcnta 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/Dk96c8V 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/Dk96c8V class=caas-img>2011: 12-4, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2011: 12-4, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/Km9whBd 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/Km9whBd class=caas-img>2012: 8-8
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2012: 8-8
" data-src=https://ift.tt/awp8WZ2 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/awp8WZ2 class=caas-img>2013: 8-8
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2013: 8-8
" data-src=https://ift.tt/HcB76q1 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/HcB76q1 class=caas-img>2014: 11-5, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2014: 11-5, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/cF5ogHa 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/cF5ogHa class=caas-img>2015: 10-6, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2015: 10-6, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/FLCw3xV 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/FLCw3xV 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/LHMy1QO 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/LHMy1QO class=caas-img>2017: 13-3, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2017: 13-3, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/pNowO7i 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/pNowO7i class=caas-img>2018: 9-6-1
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2018: 9-6-1
" data-src=https://ift.tt/K0ocvQW 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/K0ocvQW class=caas-img>2019: 8-8
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2019: 8-8
" data-src=https://ift.tt/vPISM1t 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/vPISM1t class=caas-img>2020: 12-4, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2020: 12-4, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/waVdkmc 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/waVdkmc class=caas-img>2021: 9-7-1, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2021: 9-7-1, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/15cYml0 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/15cYml0 class=caas-img>2022: 9-8
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2022: 9-8
" data-src=https://ift.tt/CzSf5PX 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/CzSf5PX class=caas-img>2023: 10-7, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2023: 10-7, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/w3W8YRh 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/w3W8YRh class=caas-img>2024: 10-7, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2024: 10-7, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/hulb3jt 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/hulb3jt class=caas-img>2025: 10-7, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2025: 10-7, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/C8bRFUx 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/C8bRFUx 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: MORNING MAG
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