In the meantime, Rodgers signed a one-year, $13.65 million deal to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025. He helped lead Pittsburgh to an NFC North title, but the Steelers were eliminated by the Houston Texans in the first round of the 2025 playoffs.
Background details show Rodgers was traded to the Jets ahead of the 2023 season. The Jets acquired Rodgers along with a first- and fifth-round pick, sending a first-, second-, and sixth-round pick back to Green Bay. The Packers also received a conditional second-round pick that could have become a first if Rodgers played 65% of the plays in 2023, an outcome that did not occur due to Rodgers’ Achilles injury on the fourth snap of the season, causing him to miss the remainder of that year. Rodgers remained with the Jets through 2024, starting all 17 games and posting 3,897 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, as the team finished 5-12.
Reports indicate that Rodgers informed the Jets’ front office of his desire to play with the team in 2025 and was publicly critical of Johnson in the offseason. Johnson, for his part, was willing to welcome him back, but none of the newly hired head-coaching candidates supported the move. The Jets ultimately hired former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn as head coach, with Justin Fields taking over at quarterback. Tyrod Taylor served as the backup, and Brady Cook also saw action at quarterback during the season.
Rodgers’ return to the NFL with Pittsburgh marked a significant chapter, including a year in which he initially stepped in as the Steelers’ starter. The 42-year-old veteran is entering the 22nd season of his professional career and finished the 2025 campaign with a 10-6 record as the starter.
Pittsburgh extended Rodgers on a one-year deal worth $22.5 million for the 2026 season and added former Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy to the staff, reuniting the duo that won a Super Bowl in 2010 and earned two MVP awards during McCarthy’s tenure. Rodgers’ collaboration with McCarthy is highlighted as a key element of the Steelers’ outlook moving forward.
