The Pittsburgh Steelers' hiring of Mike McCarthy convinced quarterback Aaron Rodgers to sign on for a 22nd season in the NFL. Rodgers said on SiriusXM NFL Radio "there's been times in the last three offseasons where I felt like maybe it is time." This spring was no different, and he was "content in walking away" based on what he experienced with the Steelers and former coach Mike Tomlin in 2025. Rodgers told The Athletic's Michael Silver that "absence makes the heart grow much fonder, in this case" while referring to McCarthy. The four-time MVP might also be driven to write a different ending for his career than the Steelers' AFC Wild Card Round loss to the Houston Texans.