Steelers place rare contract tender on Aaron Rodgers. What to know
If Aaron Rodgers decides he's going to play in 2026, then he'll likely be a Pittsburgh Steeler. Here's why.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are making a rare move as they look to bring quarterback Aaron Rodgers for a second season with the team. The Steelers are placing a right of first refusal tender on Rodgers despite him being an unrestricted free agent, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports . The unrestricted free agent tender allows Rodgers to negotiate with other NFL teams, if he so desires.
However, the Steelers will reserve the right to match any offer sheet he could sign as a condition of the tender. Pittsburgh would retain exclusive negotiating rights with the quarterback if he doesn't ink an offer sheet with another team before July 22, 2026 or the first day of NFL training camp, whichever comes first. If Rodgers agrees to sign the tender with the Steelers, he would receive a 10% raise off his salary from 2025, which would pay him about $15 million for the 2026 season.
The NFL explained the unique situation surrounding Rodgers to its teams in a note that read as follows: "UFA Aaron Rodgers, QB, California, received the UFA Tender from his Prior Club (Pittsburgh Steelers) and remains eligible to sign with any club," the NFL wrote (via Schefter). "The Steelers will receive exclusive negotiating rights for Rodgers if he does not sign by July 22, 2026 or the first scheduled day of the first 2026 NFL training camp, whichever is later. " "If Rodgers signs with a New Club before that date, he would be a potential Compensatory Free Agent ("CFA") lost be the Steelers and a potential CFA gained by the New Club if all other requirements are met under the Compensatory Draft System's rules.
" ( This story will be updated as more information becomes available . ) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steelers tag Aaron Rodgers with rare contract tender. What is it?