Whoever becomes the next Steelers head coach will likely have a big quarterback void to fill.
Aaron Rodgers is not expected to return to Pittsburgh in the wake of Mike Tomlin stepping down, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Saturday on NFL GameDay Morning.
The reduced likelihood of Rodgers donning black and gold for a second year matches team president Art Rooney's take on the situation earlier this week. Rooney, who said Wednesday he wasn't shocked by Tomlin's decision to step away after 19 seasons at the helm, also recognized the departure changed the formula for Rodgers' future; the four-time MVP came to the Steelers, in part, to play for Tomlin.
Still, it's a stark difference from the horizon the Steelers were taking in only a week ago, when they were preparing to take on the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round and Rapoport reported they were open to a Rodgers return if he decided to play for 22nd NFL season.
That's how quickly the NFL can change, even considering long-established figures. In the matter of seven days, the Steelers are now in search of just their fourth head coach since 1969, and Rodgers is expected to be one and done in Pittsburgh after throwing for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions during a 10-7 campaign.
Having never logged a sub-.500 season during Tomlin's tenure, with a streak of such campaigns extending to 2004 during Bill Cowher's final three years with the club, the Steelers will look to continue their success under a new head coach and leaning on a different starting quarterback.
While breaking in a new head coach will certainly take some getting used to, though, the Steelers are on familiar ground potentially looking for a new signal-caller. They've employed a revolving door of QBs, from Rodgers to Russell Wilson to Kenny Pickett and others in the aftermath of Ben Roethlisberger's retirement.
As for Rodgers, the question turns to what opportunities he would take moving forward.
Rapoport added that Rodgers might have already thrown his last pass -- unfortunately a pick-six in Pittsburgh's 30-6 wild-card loss -- and Rodgers suggested ahead of this season that the 2025 campaign would be his last. However, he softened his stance toward the end of the year. He's a mercurial figure, and he proved he still has plenty to offer under center.
With Pittsburgh seemingly no longer an option, it'll either be a fourth NFL home or retirement for Rodgers in the coming offseason.