The Pittsburgh Steelers have placed a seldom-used unrestricted free agent (UFA) tender on veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, giving the team more control over his future as both sides continue to weigh a second season together.

The tender allows Rodgers to accept a 10% raise on his 2025 salary of $13.65 million, which would push his 2026 pay to roughly $15 million. The tender also keeps Pittsburgh in the driver's seat, if Rodgers doesn't sign with another team by July 22 or the first day of training camp, whichever comes later, the Steelers will hold exclusive negotiating rights with the 42-year-old quarterback.

The move was first reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter, who noted that Rodgers remains free to negotiate with other clubs. However, any team that signs Rodgers away from Pittsburgh would have him count against their compensatory pick formula, a financial disincentive that effectively discourages rival clubs from pursuing him. If Rodgers does leave, the Steelers would receive a compensatory selection in the 2027 NFL Draft.

NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero clarified on The Rich Eisen Show that the tender functions more as a safety net than a hard lock. "Really what this is," Pelissero said, "is a placeholder that protects the Steelers' rights in the event that Aaron Rodgers doesn't sign with Pittsburgh and then something happens elsewhere — an injury to a quarterback, whatever it might be — and he were to sign somewhere else."

The tender is genuinely rare. It was used just twice during the 2025 offseason, by the Los Angeles Chargers on running back J.K. Dobbins and by the Cleveland Browns on wide receiver Elijah Moore. Neither player ultimately re-signed with the team that tendered them.

Rodgers' decision on his future has been a slow-moving storyline throughout the offseason. Last June, he told The Pat McAfee Show he was "pretty sure this is it," suggesting 2025 might be his final season. But his tone shifted after a positive first year in Pittsburgh.

New Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy, who worked with Rodgers for 13 seasons in Green Bay, has expressed enthusiasm about a reunion. When asked at his introductory press conference in January whether Rodgers returning would be the best-case scenario, McCarthy replied simply: "Definitely. I don't see why you wouldn't."

The Steelers also used a third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, adding him to a room that includes veterans Mason Rudolph and 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard.

For now, Rodgers' timeline for making a final decision remains unknown. The July 22 deadline looms as the next key date in a saga that has stretched deep into the spring.

The Jason Smith Show with Mike Harmon