Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is convinced that Aaron Rodgers will be back under center for the black and gold in 2026—and he’s not mincing words about it.

Rodgers signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh last offseason amid speculation that it would be his final NFL chapter. Despite the uncertainty, the future Hall of Famer delivered a solid season, throwing for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just 7 interceptions while leading the Steelers’ offense. Now a free agent once again, Rodgers has been heavily linked to a return to Pittsburgh, though no official decision has been announced.

On his Footbahlin podcast, Roethlisberger made his stance crystal clear: he fully expects Rodgers to re-sign.

“How is Aaron not coming back when you have those kinds of weapons? Like, what are we doing?” Roethlisberger said. “There’s no way he’s not coming back.”

While Big Ben is bullish on Rodgers returning, he’s growing impatient with the prolonged uncertainty. He urged the four-time NFL MVP to end the suspense and make a definitive call.

“Aaron, just let us know, man,” Roethlisberger added. “You can just say, ‘Hey, I’m coming back.’”

Rodgers has repeatedly stated he’s in no rush to decide. Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, he emphasized that no deadline has been set and no contract offer has been formally presented.

“There’s been no deadline that’s been put in front of me,” Rodgers told McAfee. “There’s no contract offer or anything, so there’s nothing that I’m having to debate between. I’m a free agent. … I’m enjoying my time with my wife and enjoying this part of the off-season, and I think there’s conversations to be had down the line, but right now, there hasn’t been any progressive conversations.”

Rodgers noted that he has maintained contact with head coach Mike Tomlin (whom he referred to as Mike McCarthy in the quote, likely a slip) and general manager Omar Khan, and he believes both sides enjoyed the previous season together. Still, he confirmed there has been no urgency or firm offer on the table.

The Steelers, meanwhile, appear to be banking on Rodgers’ return. Pittsburgh has made no significant moves at the quarterback position this offseason and recently acquired star wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. in a trade, further bolstering an already talented receiving corps that includes George Pickens and others.

Before free agency opened, Steelers GM Omar Khan expressed hope that Rodgers’ decision would come faster than last year’s drawn-out process.

“I don’t really want to say it has to be done by then,” Khan said. “Would like to have an idea, but it just isn’t going to go like it did last year. … I think the circumstances are a little different, just conversations we had. I think neither side wants to have this drag on like it did last year.”

Despite the lack of a signed deal or public announcement, the combination of Rodgers’ strong 2025 performance, Pittsburgh’s roster moves, and Roethlisberger’s confident prediction all point in one direction: Aaron Rodgers is likely headed back to the Steelers for another season. The only question that remains is when he’ll finally make it official.