The Preseason Debate

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The reunion of Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy in Pittsburgh was intended to be a championship-caliber homecoming, but the partnership is facing its first public hurdle during the 2026 preseason. As the Steelers prepare for their exhibition opener against the Green Bay Packers, a philosophical divide has opened between the 42-year-old quarterback and his head coach. Rodgers, entering his 22nd NFL season, has been vocal about his disdain for preseason action, labeling it "not real football." Despite McCarthy’s request for the veteran to log 30 to 40 plays across the first two exhibition games against his former teams—the Packers and the Jets—Rodgers remains unconvinced of the benefits.

A High-Stakes Reunion

This tension adds a layer of intrigue to the duo's first season together since their 13-year tenure in Green Bay, which included a Super Bowl XLV victory. McCarthy, who was hired by the Steelers in January 2026, views the preseason as a vital tool for establishing a "standard" and refining the team's two-minute drill. The coach noted that the decision on Rodgers' participation will be a "culmination of players" and won't be finalized until shortly before kickoff. The stakes are high for a Pittsburgh team that finished 2025 with a 10-7 record and an AFC North title, a campaign where Rodgers threw for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.

Player Perspective

Rodgers has stated that if McCarthy insists on him playing, he will comply, but he maintains that he places more weight on practice intensity than on live-action games that do not count toward the standings. "I don't think so," Rodgers stated when asked if there was any advantage to playing. The veteran signal-caller sat out the entire preseason last year under former coach Mike Tomlin and still managed to throw four touchdown passes in a Week 1 victory. For Rodgers, the focus remains on the installation of the offense and the mental preparation required for the regular season opener against Atlanta.

Looking Ahead

As the Steelers head to Acrisure Stadium to face the Packers, the focus remains on whether the veteran signal-caller will be under center or wearing a headset on the sideline. McCarthy seems inclined to turn back the clock to 2018, the last time Rodgers saw significant preseason action under his leadership. With rookie Drew Allar and veterans Mason Rudolph and Will Howard waiting in the wings, the resolution of this usage debate will set the tone for a season Rodgers has already suggested will be his final year in the NFL. Elsewhere on the roster, McCarthy does not expect first-round pick Max Iheanachor to play as he continues to recover from injury.