The Pittsburgh Steelers lost out on one veteran wide receiver in 2026 free agency, and it apparently had everything to do with Aaron Rodgers — just not in the way some may think.

According to ex-Steelers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, he was actually entertaining a return to Pittsburgh in 2026 to play with Rodgers another season, but the nature of the waiting game pushed him to see what other teams were interested.

“I was still interested in playing for Pittsburgh,” Valdes-Scantling said via the Yahoo! Sports YouTube channel. “But I was very adamant on I wanted to play with Aaron if I was going to go back to Pittsburgh because he’s one of my best friends that I’ve made in this league over my nine-year career now. He was still undecided if he was going to go back and play or if he was going to hang it up. So, I was like, ‘Let’s see what else is out there.’”

Valdes-Scantling, who played with Rodgers for four seasons in Green Bay (2018-2021), reunited with his former Packers quarterback in Pittsburgh for five games in 2025, catching just 10 passes for 80 yards and one touchdown in his short stint with the Steelers.

MVS went on to sign a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys in April 2026, while Rodgers wound up returning to the Steelers on a one-year contract that reunites him with Mike McCarthy.

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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Ex-Steelers WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling says Rodgers played role in 2026 exit