![\"Aaron](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2250577971.jpg\")
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Quarterback Aaron Rodgers stated how close the Pittsburgh Steelers were during 2025 was part of why he returned to play one final season.<\/p>\n
Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers<\/a> made it rather clear that he was intrigued to come back and play<\/a> one more season for the Pittsburgh Steelers<\/a> because of new head coach Mike McCarthy. But that wasn\u2019t the only reason.<\/p>\n Rodgers explained when he spoke to reporters at offseason workouts last week he saw the team as competitive in 2025. On paper, that could be even more of the case this fall with the offseason additions the Steelers have made.<\/p>\n In front of the media, Rodgers went through specific additions he liked.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we were close last year,\u201d said Rodgers on May 20<\/a>. \u201cWe added some good pieces. I felt like we needed a lineman probably at some point, drafted a guy in the first round that I like.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought we needed somebody who could work in the slot. Obviously, Germie [Bernard], being picked there, is a guy they think can do it. Bring in [Michael] Pittman, was obviously a good addition.<\/p>\n \u201cRico Dowdle<\/a>, Jamel [Dean] on defense. [Jaquan] Brisker as well, so a lot of good pieces added to the mix.\u201d<\/p>\n Newest Additions to Steelers Offense<\/p>\n Rodgers hit upon quite a few of Pittsburgh\u2019s newest offensive players. But there are even a few more that could be key for the unit this season that the quarterback didn\u2019t mention.<\/p>\n The Steelers selected not one but two offensive linemen on the first two days of the 2026 NFL<\/a> Draft. In the third round, the team grabbed Iowa lineman Gennings Dunker<\/a>.<\/p>\n Transitioning primarily to guard, Dunker might have as good of a chance to start as first-round pick and tackle Max Iheanachor<\/a> does. That, though, will likely depend on Broderick Jones<\/a>\u2018 health and other factors along the offensive line.<\/p>\n The Steelers also added playmakers Kaden Wetjen<\/a>, Riley Nowakowski<\/a> and Eli Heidenreich<\/a> on Day 3 of the draft. Wetjen will likely make his biggest impact on special teams, but he could provide some snaps in the slot as well.<\/p>\n Heidenreich may help fill the void in the backfield left from Kenny Gainwell\u2019s departure. Only DK Metcalf<\/a> had more targets than Gainwell from Rodgers last season. Heidenreich was a dual-threat at Navy during his college career.<\/p>\n Nowakowski is expected to mostly play full back. The team\u2019s full back\/tight end from last season, Connor Heyward<\/a>, left in NFL free agency.<\/p>\n The collection of new veterans and rookies, along with holdovers such as Metcalf, Pat Freiermuth<\/a> and Darnell Washington<\/a>, should give Rodgers a better supporting cast this season.<\/p>\n Aaron Rodgers Didn\u2019t See Steelers Offseason as Trying to Influence His 2026 Decision<\/p>\n As much as Rodgers likes what the Steelers did for the offense this offseason, he stressed the team didn\u2019t make moves for him.<\/p>\n The quarterback told reporters the additions general manager Omar Khan made were for the organization \u2014 not to convince Rodgers to play a 22nd NFL season.<\/p>\n \u201cI think they added them for the team, and not sure where I was at,\u201d said Rodgers. \u201cMike and I had a lot of good conversations over the weeks. We talked at least every week if not a couple times a week.<\/p>\n \u201cI actually was down in Southern California with Will [Howard], so I got to throw with Pittman down there. I\u2019ve known him a little bit; he\u2019s a Southern California kid. So, I always respected his game, but he\u2019s a smart player. He\u2019s got good hands, good catch radius.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, obviously pairing him with DK [Metcalf], I thought, was good for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Rodgers led<\/a> the Steelers to a 10-6 record with 3,322 passing yards and 24 touchdowns with seven interceptions last season. If Rodgers can maintain the same level of play at 42 years old this fall, his supporting cast should give him a chance to best those totals in 2026.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tDave Holcomb<\/a> is a sports reporter covering the NFL and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Pittsburgh Steelers and a variety of other NFL teams. Originally from Pittsburgh, Holcomb has covered college and professional sports for outlets including FanSided, Rotowire and Yardbarker. More about Dave Holcomb<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Getty Quarterback Aaron Rodgers stated how close the Pittsburgh Steelers were during 2025 was part of why he…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":692637,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[559],"tags":[64,63,593,85],"class_list":["post-692636","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-nfl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/692636","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=692636"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/692636\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/692637"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=692636"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=692636"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=692636"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}