PITTSBURGH — When Aaron Rodgers first arrived at the Steelers’ practice facility last June, he stood outside answering questions about his long-awaited move and his first impressions of a new football city. Asked what he liked most about Pittsburgh, the veteran quarterback didn’t hesitate to deliver a sharp, self-aware response.

“I really like the Greenfield Avenue area,” Rodgers said with a smile, brushing at his graying beard.

Then he paused briefly.

“Mike told me to say that.”

The Mike Rodgers was referring to was Mike McCarthy, the coach who spent 13 seasons alongside him in Green Bay. Under McCarthy’s guidance, Rodgers evolved into an elite NFL quarterback, collected multiple MVP awards, launched a Hall of Fame–worthy career, and lifted the Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.

Long before McCarthy reached the summit of the coaching profession, however, he was simply a kid growing up in Pittsburgh’s Greenfield neighborhood. He was raised on the legends of Chuck Noll’s Steelers, a team that defined the 1970s with four Super Bowl championships. His father, Joe McCarthy Jr., worked as a firefighter and owned a local bar. According to family lore, young Mike spent Sunday mornings sweeping floors between bar stools before heading to church. Few stories capture the spirit of Pittsburgh more clearly.

Now, decades later, McCarthy is returning home. The Steelers have reached a verbal agreement to hire the 62-year-old as their next head coach, making him just the fourth person to hold that position since the franchise hired Noll in 1969.

Naturally, the move has sparked immediate speculation. Many observers have linked McCarthy’s arrival to Rodgers and have begun asking the same question: Is this the first step toward bringing the quarterback back for another season?

League sources have stressed on multiple occasions that McCarthy was not hired as a way to lure Rodgers into returning. At the same time, there is no shortage of players and personnel inside the organization who would welcome another year with the veteran quarterback. Rodgers himself declined to offer a firm answer about his future after the playoffs, though he has left the door open to continuing his career in 2026.

“Obviously, I’m 42 years old, and I’m on a one-year deal, so everyone understands the situation,” Rodgers said ahead of the regular-season finale. “Once the season ends, I’ll be a free agent. That gives me options, if I still want to play. Not many options, but probably one or two.”

Late in 2024, Rodgers told at least one reporter that he would be interested in playing for McCarthy again. Even if the Steelers did not make their coaching decision with Rodgers in mind, McCarthy’s presence undeniably increases the chances that the quarterback could lead the team again in 2026. That possibility looks even more realistic as a once-promising 2026 quarterback draft class continues to lose depth and star power.

All of that, of course, assumes Rodgers actually wants to keep playing. As usual, speculation surrounding his future has already begun and is likely to dominate headlines for months.

But for a moment, it is worth setting Rodgers aside. While quarterback play is central to this hire, it is not necessarily about the quarterback most fans are focused on.

By choosing McCarthy, the Steelers are making a calculated bet that an experienced offensive coach — one who has worked closely with some of the most accomplished quarterbacks in NFL history — can finally help them identify and develop a long-term franchise quarterback. The organization has spent years relying on short-term veteran solutions at the position, and McCarthy’s success in Pittsburgh will ultimately be judged on whether he can break that cycle.

This approach represents a significant shift from tradition. When people ask why the Steelers do things a certain way, the usual answer is simple: because they always have. That mindset has been especially strong at the head coach position. Historically, the franchise has favored young, defense-oriented leaders who could provide decades of stability. Noll was only 37 when he was hired. Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin were both 34.

Had the Steelers followed that familiar blueprint, the leading candidate might have been Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, a 39-year-old coach from a prominent football family who has maximized a young defense in Los Angeles. Another logical option would have been Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, 44, whose aggressive style aligns closely with Pittsburgh’s long-standing defensive identity. Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, a 45-year-old former player with firsthand experience in the Steelers–Ravens rivalry, also fit the mold of a traditional Steelers leader.

Instead, the organization chose a different path. By hiring McCarthy, the Steelers broke with more than 50 years of precedent, bringing in an offensive-minded coach who now ranks as the third-oldest head coach in the NFL. In doing so, they effectively acknowledged the core issue that has held the franchise back: a repeated inability to draft, develop, and sustain a successor to Ben Roethlisberger.

The modern NFL draws a clear line between teams that have legitimate quarterbacks and those that do not. While this season’s AFC playoffs have highlighted a renewed emphasis on defense, sustained success in today’s league still revolves around elite quarterback play. In a division that includes Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow, and a conference that also features Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen, the Steelers cannot expect to escape mediocrity without solving the position once and for all.

Finishing 10–7 year after year is not a long-term plan. Neither is relying on aging veterans as temporary fixes. To move forward, the Steelers must find their next franchise quarterback.

That process could begin with Will Howard, a sixth-round pick in the 2025 draft. It could also involve a more aggressive move in the 2026 or 2027 drafts. Another possibility is bringing Rodgers back for one final season while laying the groundwork for the future. Whatever the approach, the franchise is placing its trust in a coach who has worked extensively with quarterbacks such as Joe Montana, Rich Gannon, Brett Favre, Dak Prescott, and Rodgers himself.

More than McCarthy’s 18 years of head coaching experience, more than his 174 regular-season wins, more than his 12 playoff appearances, and even more than his Super Bowl championship, that quarterback pedigree is the true reason for this hire.

One could argue the Steelers might have pursued a younger offensive coach instead. Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, or his brother Klay Kubiak of the 49ers, could have offered a blend of modern offensive thinking and youth. Others may believe the team should have taken an even bigger gamble by hiring Rams passing game coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase, who is just 35 and represents the next generation of offensive minds.

But the Steelers made their choice. They opted for experience, familiarity, and a proven track record at football’s most important position.

Now, it is up to one of the NFL’s oldest head coaches to stabilize the franchise by finding and developing the quarterback of the future — and to do it quickly. In Pittsburgh, patience exists, but not indefinitely. Closing time is never far away.