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Just Hours Before Showdown With Texans, Steelers Make Final Decision on QB Aaron Rodgers’ Future

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – January 12, 2026

Just hours before a do-or-die Wild Card matchup with the Houston Texans, the Pittsburgh Steelers have quietly closed the book on the biggest question hovering over the locker room for weeks: the immediate future of quarterback Aaron Rodgers. No press release. No emergency news conference. Just an internal decision delivered at the moment the organization believes clarity matters most.

According to team sources, the Pittsburgh Steelers have reached a definitive stance: all discussions regarding Rodgers’ future will be completely tabled until the postseason run concludes. No extensions. No exit talks. No room for speculation. For now, Rodgers is the Steelers’ quarterback—and the sole priority is the game ahead.

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The timing was intentional. Pittsburgh enters the Wild Card round determined to eliminate every possible distraction before facing the Houston Texans, a young, fast, and fearless opponent playing with nothing to lose. Inside the building, the message has been unmistakable: there is no tomorrow, no long-term planning—only 60 minutes of football.

At 42, Rodgers brings more than experience and accolades; he brings enormous media gravity. Even a vague comment can dominate national headlines. The Steelers understand that allowing speculation to linger at this stage could derail preparation—something the organization refuses to risk.

Rather than let uncertainty fester, Pittsburgh chose decisiveness.

One internal source described the move as “protecting the locker room.” Rodgers is respected, but the Steelers’ culture has never revolved around a single individual—even a future Hall of Famer. The belief in Pittsburgh is that postseason success belongs to teams that move as one, and the fastest way to ensure that unity is to remove ambiguity.

Head coach Mike Tomlin has reinforced that philosophy all season, stressing that January football is about discipline, preparation, and trust—not hypothetical futures.

“This is about the team, not timelines or contracts,” a league source said. “They respect Aaron, but they respect this moment even more.”

What happens after the postseason remains open. The Steelers will evaluate everything once the final whistle sounds. A deep playoff run could reshape the conversation. An early exit could accelerate change. None of that matters now.

The Texans await with youth and audacity. The Steelers counter with structure, defense, and a quarterback whose career has been defined by moments exactly like this.

The decision has been made.
Everything else can wait until after the game.

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Seahawks Make Announcement After NFL Delivers Final Crucial Decision Regarding Playoff Matchup With 49ers
Seattle, Washington – January 12, 2026 The Seattle Seahawks didn’t need to manufacture noise. The noise found them — delivered by the NFL’s final, decisive call. After the league finalized the Divisional Round schedule, the Seattle Seahawks officially confirmed that their home playoff matchup against the San Francisco 49ers will be moved to national television, a clear signal that the NFL wants fans across the country tuned in to Seattle at the most critical moment of the season. The game is set for Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Lumen Field in Seattle — the Seahawks’ home stadium after securing the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Under the NFL’s current windows, kickoff will be either 4:30 PM ET or 8:00 PM ET, pending the league’s final announcement (typically determined after the preceding Monday Night game). For viewers on the West Coast, that translates to 1:30 PM PT or 5:00 PM PT. Moving the game to a national broadcast is about more than scheduling. League sources indicate the NFL wants to ensure fans nationwide can watch the Seahawks, because this is far from a routine Divisional Round matchup. By elevating Seattle to a premier national slot, the league has turned this contest into the central stage of the NFC playoffs — a game with direct implications for the road to the Super Bowl. The stakes are unmistakable. This is a high-voltage NFC West rematch, the third meeting between the rivals this season. Seattle dropped the opener, then defeated San Francisco in Week 18 to clinch the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage. The rubber match now decides far more than divisional pride. Broadcast plans remain TBD, but the matchup is expected to air on FOX, NBC, ESPN/ABC, or Peacock, with FOX and NBC viewed as the leading candidates for an NFC playoff showcase. Regardless of the network, the NFL’s message is unmistakable: this is not just another playoff game — it’s the NFC’s main event. For the Seahawks, the announcement carries added weight. It marks the first home playoff game of the Mike Macdonald era, played under the brightest national spotlight. Familiarity with the 49ers offers no comfort; if anything, it magnifies every mistake when the entire country is watching. The NFL’s decision also eliminates any remaining uncertainty around timing, allowing Seattle to lock into full game-week mode — fine-tuning routines, recovery, and game plans with a known opponent and a known stage. The league wants America watching Seattle.The league wants the NFC paying attention. And now, with the lights fully on at Lumen Field, the Seahawks understand exactly what this moment demands: you don’t just play to win — you play to establish who you are in front of the entire NFL.