“I’m Obviously Hoping,” Michael Pittman Jr. Drops Hint About Aaron Rodgers and Steelers

Michael Pittman Jr. has joined the Pittsburgh Steelers without any clarity yet on who will be throwing him passes in 2026. But even with Aaron Rodgers still undecided, Pittman sounds like someone who believes the veteran quarterback is not finished yet. On Up & Adams, Pittman said he has not spoken to Rodgers since the trade because he wants to give him space, though he added that he thinks Rodgers still wants to keep playing.

Pittman admitted there has been no direct update from Rodgers to him. But he still offered a prediction anyway, saying his read on Rodgers is that he will try to play “as long as he can.” For the Steelers, that kind of optimism is useful, but it is not the same as certainty. Rodgers has still not publicly committed to playing in 2026, and the team remains in a waiting game that continues to shape the entire offense.

Earlier this month, Rodgers said he had no deadline and no contract offer from Pittsburgh at that point, even while speaking positively about head coach Mike McCarthy. Pittman’s arrival is part of a bigger offseason effort to strengthen the Steelers around the uncertainty.

Pittsburgh traded for the former Colts wide receiver on March 9 and then signed him to a new three-year, $59 million extension, giving the offense another proven target alongside DK Metcalf. So Pittman’s remarks touched the biggest unanswered question in Pittsburgh right now: whether Rodgers is coming back, and whether the Steelers’ upgraded receiving group will actually get the future Hall of Famer at quarterback.

1. Pittman Says He Has Not Contacted Rodgers Since The Trade

Pittman’s first point was straightforward. He said he has not talked to Rodgers since becoming a Steeler, and the reason was not distance or tension. It was respect. According to Pittman, Rodgers is someone who likes his space and likes time to reset, so he did not want to immediately call and ask for an answer about the quarterback’s plans. That detail says a lot about how Pittman is approaching the situation. He could have pushed for clarity right away, especially after arriving on a team whose quarterback future remains unsettled. Instead, he chose patience and let Rodgers handle the decision on his own timeline. That’s the kind of unique orbit Rodgers has created late in his career. Few quarterbacks generate this much attention without even making a formal announcement. Every pause of Rodgers becomes part of the story, and even a teammate choosing not to text him becomes news. Pittman did not sound frustrated, though. He was more measured than anxious, which is important because it suggests the Steelers’ side is still trying to avoid adding pressure publicly. That does not solve the uncertainty, but it does show that at least one key new addition is willing to wait. The larger issue is that waiting can only go so far. The Steelers do not just need a prediction at some point. They need an answer. Pittman may be comfortable giving Rodgers room now, but Pittsburgh eventually has to know what kind of offense it is building for the fall.

2. He Still Predicts Rodgers Will Want To Keep Playing

Even without a direct conversation, Pittman still offered a clear read on Rodgers’ mindset. He said he believes Rodgers wants to play and that, based on knowing him previously, he expects the quarterback to keep going as long as he can. That is the strongest takeaway from Pittman’s appearance. That prediction is meaningful because it comes from someone who has worked with Rodgers before, not just from an outside analyst guessing from a distance. Pro Football Talk noted that Rodgers has not spoken publicly about his plans in recent weeks, which leaves Pittman’s confidence unconfirmed for now. Until Rodgers says something himself, every belief around him is still only an educated expectation. There are reasons to understand why Pittman thinks this way. Rodgers was still productive in 2025, and Reuters reported on March 4 that he had spoken warmly about Mike McCarthy while leaving the door open to more discussions once league rules allowed them. That does not prove a return is coming, but it does not sound like someone who has shut the idea down either. That is what keeps the Steelers in this awkward middle ground. Pittman’s guess may be right. In fact, it may match the optimism inside the building. But the team is still living in a space where hope and confirmation are not the same thing.

3. Pittsburgh Has Already Invested In Its Passing Game

Whether Rodgers returns or not, the Steelers have already made a clear statement about their offense. Trading for Pittman and extending him showed that Pittsburgh wants a stronger receiver room and a more reliable structure in the passing game. Reuters reported that Pittman had 80 catches for 784 yards and seven touchdowns last season before the trade. That move came after the Steelers had already built around DK Metcalf, giving them a much more credible top two at wide receiver than they had before. From a roster-building standpoint, it is easy to see why observers would connect those moves to the idea of one more Rodgers season. Pittman also made clear that he is not panicking about the alternatives. He said the team would be in good shape if Mason Rudolph or Will Howard end up taking the snaps, even while he admitted he is “obviously hoping” Rodgers comes back. Pittman is not saying the season depends on one man alone. He is saying there is a preferred outcome, and Rodgers is clearly part of it. Still, the roster logic points in one direction. Teams do not make notable pass-catching upgrades in a vacuum. Pittsburgh’s moves suggest a team trying to maximize whatever is left of a win-now window, and Rodgers remains the quarterback who best fits that timeline. But the uncertainty surrounding Rodgers has now stretched long enough that it is becoming part of Pittsburgh’s offseason identity. ESPN’s Adam Schefter described Kirk Cousins as a possible “logical pivot” if Rodgers does not return, which shows that even outside observers are now thinking seriously about the backup plan.

• Tags:
• Michael Pittman Jr
• Aaron Rodgers