It’s not like the entire Pittsburgh Steelers fanbase fully supports the notion of Aaron Rodgers returning as the franchise’s quarterback.

Far from it.

But I can certainly tell you who is rooting for Rodgers’ return to Pittsburgh in 2026: Anyone who tracks NFL television ratings at the league office, and anyone within the walls of its network broadcast partners.

Based on the schedule, there appears to be a lot of confidence that the Steelers will be a competitive squad late in the season. As limited as Rodgers may be at age 42, he still gives the team a better chance of competing for an AFC North crown in 2026 than Will Howard, Drew Allar or Mason Rudolph.

At least I think so.

Roger Goodell’s schedule makers and fat cats at the networks must think so too. After all, when the Steelers’ schedule was revealed Thursday night, it included four primetime games and two additional stand-alone games.

Of the five Pittsburgh games that occur between Week 10 and Week 14, four of them are stand-alone contests. Mike McCarthy’s club is on “Sunday Night Football” Nov. 15 in Cincinnati (Week 10) and versus Houston at home Dec. 6 (Week 13). There is a Monday night game in Jacksonville on Dec. 14 (Week 14). And Denver visits Acrisure Stadium the day after Thanksgiving (Friday, Nov. 27) for a 3 p.m. kickoff.

Also, sandwiched in that swath of spotlight games is a 4:25 kick in Philadelphia (Nov. 22) on CBS.

All of that happens before potential flex games at home against Carolina on Dec. 16 and at Baltimore to end the season in Week 18.

Pittsburgh also has a Thursday night date in Cleveland on Oct. 1 (Week 4) and a 9:30 am start for a game in Paris on Oct. 27 against the Saints (Week 7).

Translation? NFL bigwigs are anticipating Rodgers being the Steelers QB and expecting the black and gold to be in the thick of the playoff mix.

Do they know something we don’t know about a Rodgers contract being done? Probably not.

The schedule wizards are likely making the same presumptions that all of us are. I’m sure some questions were backchannelled to the Steelers about the potential of a Rodgers return, and I’m sure Art Rooney II and Omar Khan gave the response to all of them that they have been giving to us.

He’ll be here … eventually.

Well, the second half of the NFL primetime schedule is putting a big bet on “eventually.” Or it’s betting big on Howard, Rudolph or Allar.

Otherwise, the nation might see some pretty poor quarterback play from a buried Steelers team under the bright lights quite a bit in November and December.

The Steelers have a large enough international fanbase that primetime games are going to to pop big numbers regardless of who is at QB. But Rodgers is an additional individual draw on his own, and — in terms of in-game competitiveness — he’s likely to keep those games closer than Rudolph or one of those two untested young QBs.

Some other observations about the Steelers schedule:

• For those complaining about all the late starts in the second half of the year, enjoy the early kicks when you can get them. Before the Week 9 bye, the Steelers have just one night game. That’s the Week 4 tilt against the Browns on “Thursday Night Football.”

Six of the other seven kickoffs are at 1 p.m., and then there is the 9:30 am start in Paris.

• The Steelers better gather wins early. Aside from a trip to New England in Week 2, the Steelers won’t face a 2025 playoff team until Week 11 in Philadelphia. Of their first nine opponents, eight had records below .500 a year ago.

Meanwhile, five of the club’s last eight games are against teams that went to the playoffs last year (Denver, Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Houston and Carolina). Two of the remaining three contests are against Baltimore.

• The AFC North games are a little funky. The Steelers will be done with Cleveland and Cincy by the end of Week 10. Yet, they won’t see the Ravens at all until Week 15 (Dec. 20) at Acrisure Stadium.

The return game in Baltimore is the last week of the season.

Based on Lamar Jackson — and the state of the Steelers’ aging defensive stars and an uncertain offense — that could be a major advantage for whichever club gets close to Christmas with better health.

Last year, the Steelers and Ravens didn’t meet until December, playing in Baltimore on Dec. 7 and in Pittsburgh on Jan. 4 for the regular-season finale to decide the AFC North.

Featured Local Businesses

More local businesses

LISTEN: Steelers beat writer Chris Adamski joins Tim Benz to talk about the Steelers’ game in Paris, the quarterback situation, and potential position changes along the offensive line.