The Steelers’ hiring of Mike McCarthy as head coach Saturday is reportedly not intended to convince quarterback Aaron Rodgers to play for Pittsburgh for another season, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
McCarthy is a Pittsburgh-area native and is the franchise’s fourth head coach since 1969. At 62, McCarthy is the oldest head coach in Steelers history.
McCarthy coached Rodgers with the Green Bay Packers from 2006 to 2018. The pair went 108-62-1 together and won a Super Bowl over the Steelers in 2011. Rodgers also won two MVPs under McCarthy’s leadership.
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Rodgers, 42, has not yet announced his plans for next season, as his contract expired at the end of last season. While undecided on his future, the Steelers are reportedly open to bringing him back. While McCarthy’s hiring wasn’t intended to directly lure Rodgers back, it reportedly won’t hurt his chances of returning, ESPN reported.
Rodgers was rejuvenated this past season with the Steelers. After a three-year postseason drought, Rodgers threw for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and 7 interceptions while battling a wrist injury late in the season. He led the Steelers to their first AFC North title since the 2020 season.
Rodgers was vocal about how much he enjoyed his time in Pittsburgh and playing for former head coach Mike Tomlin. After the Steelers’ wild-card loss to the Houston Texans, Tomlin surprisingly stepped down as head coach after 19 seasons.
Steelers owner Art Rooney II told reporters that he was looking to compete rather than rebuild. McCarthy sat out last season after spending his previous five years as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. McCarthy went 49-35 and 1-3 in the playoffs with the Cowboys.