As the Pittsburgh Steelers await a decision from Aaron Rodgers, coach Mike McCarthy is making plans for an offense both with and without him.
The first-year Steelers coach didn’t reveal any news about Rodgers’ future while appearing on a Wisconsin radio station Friday. But McCarthy said he is building variables into his offense to accommodate whether Rodgers or someone else plays quarterback next season.
“When you put together a playbook, the part about building an offensive system to make the quarterback successful, that’ll never change,” McCarthy told “Wilde and Tausch” of WTLX-FM in Madison, Wisc.
“I’m not naive to the fact that we could be playing with a first-year starter as opposed to a 20-plus year starter,” McCarthy said. “And that’s really how deep each and every conversation goes when you talk about play design and play entry. We had one this morning on a play-action play, and I said, if Aaron’s here, we’ll run it this way. And if it’s Will (Howard) and the young guys, I said, we’ll run it another way. Those are the kind of conversations you have, and it’s all about having a plan that’s proactive in its approach.”
But when building a new offense, McCarthy said those conversations aren’t limited to the quarterback position.
“It’s all the way down to the technique of how you’re going to play with this group of tight ends as opposed to some of the tight end groups I’ve had in the past,” he said. “That’s why it takes the amount of time that it takes, especially in year one when you’re building your system.”
As for Rodgers’ future, McCarthy provided no new insights. It’s unknown whether the 42-year-old free agent will return to the Steelers for another season, retire or play elsewhere.
However, McCarthy said he and Rodgers continue to talk.
“It always comes back to healthy communication, and there definitely has been that,” McCarthy said. “So, we’ll see what the future holds. But we’re definitely preparing for both scenarios.”
A future hall of famer, Rodgers indicated this past season was likely his last after signing a one-year deal with the Steelers in June. But his stance on retirement seemed to soften as he and the team played well in stretches late into the year.
Coach Mike Tomlin’s resignation seemed likely to shut the door on his return, but then the Steelers hired McCarthy, his former coach in Green Bay.
Teams can sign free agents beginning March 11.
“He’s going through his normal offseason routine,” McCarthy said. “He’s been doing some skiing of late, which I didn’t realize he was into that. I don’t want to put out his personal business. He’s doing what he’s supposed to be doing.
“It’s the same kind of conversation I just had with Cam Heyward the other day. These guys have played a long time.”
The 36-year-old Heyward just finished his 15th season. He has one year remaining on his contract.
“There’s definitely a decompressing period that goes on for the older guys,” McCarthy said. “And that’s where we are.”