Pittsburgh Steelers fans have been eagerly awaiting clarity on the quarterback situation heading into the 2026 NFL season, with veteran Aaron Rodgers mulling a return after a solid but playoff-short 2025 campaign. The anticipation just got a major boost from the team’s newest signing.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) looks on at the Jumbotron after his fumble resulted in a Houston Texans touchdown.
Cornerback Jamel Dean, freshly signed from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a three-year deal, expressed strong confidence that Rodgers will be back in the Steel City. During his introductory press conference, Dean told reporters he is “looking forward to [Rodgers] signing back.”
He added a personal twist: “Because that same football, I need him to sign it. I’ve been waiting like five years just to be able to ask him like, ‘Hey, you remember this ball? I’ve been meaning for you to sign this ball for so many years, and I think this is a good time to do it now.’”
The football in question dates back to October 18, 2020, when Dean — then with the Buccaneers — intercepted Rodgers and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown (Rodgers’ third career pick-six). Now teammates, Dean sees Rodgers’ return as the perfect opportunity to finally get that autograph.
Dean joins Pittsburgh after a productive stint in Tampa Bay, where he played from 2019 through 2025. In the 2025 regular season, he recorded 46 total tackles. Over his NFL career, he has amassed 359 tackles, bringing veteran experience to a Steelers secondary looking to build on their 2025 AFC North title (before a wild-card loss to the Houston Texans).
The optimism from Dean aligns perfectly with what Steelers fans have been hoping for. Rodgers, the four-time MVP, had a respectable 2025 in Pittsburgh with over 3,300 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions. His potential reunion gains extra intrigue under new head coach Mike McCarthy — a Pittsburgh native who previously coached Rodgers in Green Bay, including their Super Bowl XLV victory in 2010.
McCarthy took over after longtime coach Mike Tomlin stepped down following the 2025 season, ending a remarkable run with no losing seasons. Fans expect immediate results in 2026, and a Rodgers-McCarthy pairing could be the spark to end Pittsburgh’s nearly decade-long playoff win drought.
While Rodgers has remained noncommittal publicly — stating there’s no deadline and enjoying offseason time — positive conversations with McCarthy and GM Omar Khan continue, and reports suggest the organization anticipates his return. Dean’s bold, heartfelt endorsement sends a clear message: the pieces are falling into place, and Pittsburgh believers are ready for Rodgers to commit.
Steelers Nation has waited long enough — and now one of their own is saying what they’ve all been thinking.
