Key facts
- Aaron Rodgers, 42, is the NFL’s oldest active player entering the 2026 season
- Rodgers signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers for 2026, reuniting with former Packers coach Mike McCarthy
- McCarthy reportedly wants Rodgers to play 30-40 preseason plays against the Packers and Jets, per The Athletic
- Rodgers last saw meaningful preseason action in 2023 with the Jets and in 2018 with the Packers
- Rodgers is a four-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl MVP, and 10-time Pro Bowl selection
- McCarthy said as of early August no final decision had been made on Rodgers’ preseason playing time
Aaron Rodgers, the NFL’s oldest active player at 42, is expected to see preseason action for the Pittsburgh Steelers this summer despite last playing meaningful preseason snaps in 2018. Rodgers signed with the Steelers for the 2026 season, reuniting with head coach Mike McCarthy, who led him to a Super Bowl and multiple MVP awards during their time together in Green Bay.
Why Rodgers is playing preseason snaps
According to an exclusive interview with The Athletic’s Michael Silver in early August, McCarthy asked Rodgers to play in the Steelers’ preseason games against the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets — both former teams of his. McCarthy reportedly wants Rodgers on the field for 30 to 40 plays. Rodgers said he agreed to do it for his coach, telling The Athletic, “I said, ‘Mike, if you want me to play, I’ll play.’ I’m not saying I want to do it. But if he wants me to, I will.”
McCarthy later tempered expectations, telling NFL.com that no firm decision had been made. He said the Steelers have “a lot of ideas” and plans in place but wanted to wait until closer to the games to decide, calling it a team-wide consideration rather than one built around a single player.
Rodgers’ own ambivalence
Just before the first week of the preseason, Rodgers downplayed the importance of exhibition snaps, saying he does not see much value in playing preseason games since they are “not real football.” He said he was fine either way — playing or not. Rodgers also mentioned that when he is not on the field, he likes to stay on the coaching headset to keep teammates calm and, in his words, crack a few dad jokes.
Rodgers’ preseason history
Rodgers last appeared in a preseason game in 2023 with the Jets, throwing passes across two offensive series in New York’s final exhibition game before that regular season. Before that, his last significant preseason action came in 2018 with the Packers, when he threw a touchdown pass in an exhibition game.
Rodgers’ résumé and what’s next
Rodgers is a four-time NFL MVP, a Super Bowl MVP, and a 10-time Pro Bowl selection, and is widely expected to eventually be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. His move to Pittsburgh for 2026 was described as being driven more by his continued love of football than any need to add to his career accomplishments. The Steelers’ preseason schedule includes matchups against the Packers and Jets, the two organizations Rodgers is expected to see the field against, though the exact games and snap counts had not been finalized as of the reporting.
Sources
Featured photo: All-Pro Reels via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)