Football fans in Pittsburgh got a surprise treat on Friday night when Aaron Rodgers was spotted casually enjoying ice cream at Kool Cones. The quarterback, who’s yet to sign a new contract with the Steelers, was seen with Mason Rudolph, Pat Freiermuth and Ben Skowronek.
The low-key outing by the four, captured on video by a fan, quickly circulated on social media. It immediately ignited huge excitement among the Steelers faithful just days before the start of Organized Team Activities, as it is a good sign regarding the future of Rodgers with the team.
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In the footage, the four Steelers teammates were seen casually dressed in front of the popular local ice cream spot. They appear relaxed while chatting and soaking in the atmosphere as they wait for their order, a kind of bonding that the Steelers fans are happy to see ahead of OTA.
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The seemingly innocent night out has been interpreted by many as a positive sign amid ongoing speculation about Rodgers’ future with the organization. The four-time NFL MVP joined the Steelers in 2025 on a one-year deal and he’s expected to stay for one more season.
Rodgers had a respectable performance for the Steelers in 2025, throwing for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns. He led them to winning the AFC North for the first time since 2020, before suffering another wild-card loss. He gets the opportunity to work with Mike McCarthy once again.
Steelers legend projects potential scenario for Aaron Rodgers in 2026
Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis made a bold prediction regarding Aaron Rodgers ahead of the 2026 season. The Hall of Famer believes the team will turn to a younger quarterback during the season should the veteran fail to live up to expectations.
“I’ve got to give them the best chance to win now. Aaron Rodgers provides that,” Bettis said. “I am going to keep my eye on the future and have some young guys in the queue ready to go at the quarterback position and give them the opportunity.
“And, if the Aaron Rodgers experiment does not work, then midseason, we’ve got to go in a different direction. If we’re not in playoffs position by midseason, we have to pull the plug on this plan. Who wants to sit Aaron Rodgers? That’s the tough part.”
Mason Rudolph is expected to remain as the Steelers’ backup quarterback next season and will be first in line to take the starting role should Rodgers lose it. The third-string slot is expected to go to either Will Howard or rookie Drew Allar.
Edited by Farouk Yusuf