Mike McCarthy 'definitely' wants Aaron Rodgers back as Steelers QB, chokes back tears over coaching hometown team

An emotional Mike McCarthy was introduced as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers Tuesday while flanked at a news conference by team owner Art Rooney II and general manager Omar Khan.

He was almost immediately asked about the most pressing subject facing the franchise now that it's found its next head coach. Does he want Aaron Rodgers back to play quarterback?

"Definitely," McCarthy said. "I don’t see why you wouldn’t. I think just like anything, knowing Aaron long enough. … When guys are up at that stage of their career, they need to step away and decompress. I think that’s very important."

McCarthy and Rodgers, of course, have history. The two spent 13 seasons together with the Green Bay Packers, a span that included a Super Bowl championship and two of Rodgers' four NFL MVP awards.

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Rodgers, 42, is far from that MVP prime and is currently contemplating whether to retire or return for another NFL season, presumably to reunite with McCarthy in Pittsburgh. McCarthy said Tuesday that he's spoken with Rodgers and that he studied Rodgers' single season with the Steelers in 2025. He likes what he saw.

"I was able to sit back and watch the games, I watched most of the Pittsburgh games on TV," McCarthy said. "I thought he was a great asset for the team."

McCarthy did not put a deadline on Rodgers to make a decision. Whomever plays quarterback for the Steelers will work closely with McCarthy, who confirmed that he'll be calling plays on offense. 

Does McCarthy see a long-term QB answer in Will Howard?

Whether or not Rodgers returns, he's obviously not the quarterback of the future in Pittsburgh. For that, McCarthy sounds like he believes that the Steelers might already have that guy on their roster. 

He's "excited" about Will Howard, the former Ohio State quarterback whom the Steelers selected in the sixth round of the 2025 draft. Howard served as Pittsburgh's third-string quarterback last season behind Rodgers and Mason Rudolph. 

“I’m really excited about Will Howard," McCarthy said. "He’s someone, I thought he really came on there at Ohio State. I’m anxious to work with him. It’d be great to have Aaron back, but Will and Mason — I’m really excited to get started with those guys."

Howard's yet to take an NFL snap, but McCarthy clearly likes what he's seen of him.

McCarthy fights back tears over coaching his hometown team

A Pittsburgh native, McCarthy joins the Steelers for his third NFL head coaching job. He was emotional from the start about the opportunity to coach his hometown team. He was fighting back tears before making his opening statement. 

"This city, this franchise, this fanbase — it means the world to me," McCarthy said. "Because Pittsburgh's my world. It's just awesome to be back here."

McCarthy dove deeper into his ties with the city and the team in a statement released by the Steelers earlier Tuesday. 

"Often times, coaches and players put on new team colors, and it takes a minute to feel comfortable in them," McCarthy said. "But, if you are blessed beyond measure, one day you put on the colors you've worn since you were brought home from Mercy Hospital."

It's not clear if that passion was a factor for the Steelers in their decision to hire McCarthy. But it certainly didn't hurt.

Rooney was asked on Tuesday about the call to hire McCarthy, who, at 62 years old, is a break from the franchise's tradition of hiring young coaches with long futures ahead of them. McCarthy is just the fourth Steelers coach since 1969. Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin all coached in Pittsburgh for at least 15 seasons.

“We came into this wanting to hire the best coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers, so we did not say we’re trying to hire a young defensive coordinator or an offensive guy," Rooney said. … "I won’t say that it was an easy decision, but I would say, at the end of the day, it was an obvious decision for us that Mike was the right guy for the job.“