Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – As questions swirl around his future, Aaron Rodgers has made his feelings unmistakably clear: despite outside pressure and familiar ties elsewhere, his heart remains with the Green Bay Packers.
Rodgers is currently approaching the end of his one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the situation in Pittsburgh has grown increasingly complicated. While the organization welcomed him as a veteran bridge in 2025, many Steelers fans have never fully embraced the move. Public sentiment around the team has shifted toward the future, with louder calls to give younger quarterbacks more snaps and allow the next generation to take control.
All the Steelers fans whining and complaining about Mike McCarthy need to relax. This teams needs 2 things. A coach who can call a top 5 offense and develop QBs. He’s proved he checks both boxes. This is not about him being from Pittsburgh or reconnecting with Aaron Rodgers pic.twitter.com/i2rN0hi4Vs — Frank Michael Smith (@frankmikesmith) January 27, 2026
Inside league circles, there is a growing belief that Rodgers’ time in Pittsburgh may be nearing its natural conclusion. The contract is expiring, fan support is lukewarm at best, and internal discussions have reportedly centered on whether continuing with a 40-plus-year-old quarterback aligns with the franchise’s long-term vision. The idea of “passing the torch” has become a recurring theme among analysts and supporters alike.
Against that backdrop, Rodgers’ thoughts have drifted back to Green Bay.
Despite persistent outreach and personal respect from Mike McCarthy, Rodgers has indicated that another reunion elsewhere does not outweigh what the Packers represent to him.
“I understand the situation I’m in right now. We won a Super Bowl together, and I’ll always respect that,” Rodgers said. “But that chapter has passed. I want my best memories, my biggest wins, to live forever with the Packers — not with another team, not in another uniform. ‘Coming home’ is my final wish, and my lifelong love belongs to Green Bay.”
Those words have resonated deeply across the NFL landscape. For Packers fans, they echo a familiar bond between a franchise and a quarterback whose legacy is inseparable from the frozen fields of Lambeau. For Steelers fans, they underscore an uncomfortable reality: Rodgers’ heart may already be somewhere else.
As the offseason approaches, Rodgers stands at a crossroads. His contract in Pittsburgh is winding down, public opinion is divided, and the league continues to trend younger at quarterback. Yet for Rodgers, the decision appears less about market logic and more about meaning.
Whether or not a return ultimately materializes, his message is unmistakable. Green Bay is not just where his career took shape — it is where he believes his story truly belongs.
Jets Suddenly Hire Total Unknown DC for Aaron Glenn’s Staff
The New York Jets have hired a new defensive coordinator.
NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero revealed on social media that the Jets are hiring Miami Dolphins pass game coordinator and secondary coach Brian Duker to fill the DC vacancy.
“He’s close with Aaron Glenn from their days with the Lions and now reunites with him in New York,” Pelissero added.
The Jets are hiring Brian Duker as their defensive coordinator, per sources.
Duker, 36, most recently was the Dolphins’ pass game coordinator/secondary. He’s close with Aaron Glenn from their days with the Lions and now reunites with him in New York.
A Surprise Name That Has Entered the Mix for the Jets
Duker interviewed for the Jets’ DC job virtually on Tuesday, January 27.
“Duker (36) has spent the last two seasons with the Miami Dolphins as the team’s pass game coordinator/secondary coach. Prior to his stint in Miami, Duker spent three seasons with the Detroit Lions and HC Aaron Glenn, serving as the defensive backs coach (2023), safeties coach (2022), and defensive assistant (2021),” Jets editorial contributor Susanna Weir wrote in a press release.
That late entrant seemingly indicated that the green and white were re-opening their search.
Top Social Media Reactions to Jets New DC Hire
“Duker has no play calling experience, so I would expect Aaron Glenn to call the plays on defense. He knows Duker from their Detroit days, so there should be a comfort level,” ESPN’s Rich Cimini posted.
Duker has no play calling experience, so I would expect Aaron Glenn to call the plays on defense. He knows Duker from their Detroit days, so there should be a comfort level. #Jets
“Aaron Glenn began telling candidates recently that he wanted to call plays defensively. This was different from [the] original plans and discussions, having spoken to sources close to those who interviewed for the Jets DC job. That’s among the reasons things fell through with Wink Martindale, and why Jim Leonard was never an option,” NFL Insider Connor Hughes explained.
“Glenn is now expected to call plays for New York with Brian Duker as DC, something he stressed he wasn’t interested in at various points last year. After Robert Saleh’s first year, there was a push to have him take over as play caller from higher ups. Saleh fended that off to stick with Jeff Ulbrich. The head coach calling plays clearly something the team has been open to for a while,” Hughes added.
Aaron Glenn began telling candidates recently that he wanted to call plays defensively. This was different from original plans and discussions, having spoken to sources close to those who interviewed for the #Jets DC job.
That’s among the reasons things fell through with Wink
NFL Insider Connor Hughes of SNY shared, “Here are Aaron Glenn’s defensive rankings as the Lions play caller
YPG, PPG
2024: 20th, 7th
2023: 23rd, 23rd
2022: 32nd, 30th
2021: 29th, 31st”
Here are Aaron Glenn’s defensive rankings as the #Lions play caller
YPG, PPG 2024: 20th, 7th 2023: 23rd, 23rd 2022: 32nd, 30th 2021: 29th, 31st
Aaron Glenn Is Calling His Own Shot
With all due respect, this is less about Duker and more about AG. Glenn is going to call plays for the Jets’ defense in 2026.
How did he come to this decision? One of two things happened here.
He either couldn’t get a prominent name to fill in the DC role because the job is viewed as unattractive. The team lacks talent, and AG’s murky future creates uncertainty. Thus, AG would have no choice but to step up to the plate himself due to a lack of quality options.
Or AG had a change of heart and wanted to die on his own sword. According to the people on the outside, Glenn is on the hottest of hot seats heading into the season.
If this is going to fail, at least Glenn could sleep better at night knowing that he called the plays. So if it works, he will receive a ton of credit. If it flops, at least Glenn called the plays.
