The long-rumored marriage between the Pittsburgh Steelers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers is headed toward the altar. The NFL Network reports that Rodgers plans to sign a one-year free agent deal with the team and will arrive Friday, June 6, to prepare for next week’s veteran mini-camp.
Why did the deal take so long?
Rodgers, 41, first visited the Steelers’ practice facility on March 21, just nine days after the New York Jets released him, and has remained linked to the team ever since. He also had discussions with the New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints about playing in 2025, but told the Pat McAfee show in April he just wasn’t ready to make a decision.
“I wasn’t stringing anyone along,” Rodgers said. “I wasn’t holding anyone hostage, I was honest from the jump about where I was at mentally and some of the constraints I have in my life right now that warrant my attention.”
How did Rodgers’ tenure with the Jets go?
The four-time league MVP’s tenure with the Jets was a disappointment. He signed in 2023 after 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, where he won his lone Super Bowl in 2010. He called four plays in his first season in New York before suffering a torn Achilles in his debut.
Last season, he started all 17 games and threw for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. His quarterback rating was just over 90, which ranked 19th in the league among full-time starters. The Jets’ offense finished 24th in scoring, and overall, they finished with a 5-12 record. He talked about missing the playoffs toward the end of the year.
“Most of those opportunities that we had and other games where I had the ball in my hands late in the game, where we didn’t get it done, or games where we could have turned the momentum, would have changed things,” Rodgers said. “Would we be playing for a playoff spot? Who knows, that’s the ‘what if’ game.”
Instead, his time with the Jets ended abruptly after a meeting with new head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey, where Rodgers said they failed to show him “an ample amount of respect.”
How did the Steelers’ patience pay off?
The Steelers showed great patience throughout the drama after they parted ways with last year’s starting duo of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. During the offseason, the Steelers brought back long-time backup Mason Rudolph, who many expected to start. They also drafted Ohio State quarterback Will Howard in the sixth round of April’s draft.
Rodgers also dropped a few hints along the way. He held a throwing session in California with new Steelers receiver DK Metcalf in March. When asked about the interaction and the possible signing at the league meetings a few days later, team president Art Rooney was hopeful.
“I would say it was a good sign that he wanted to do that and you know we keep hearing that he’s, I guess, headed in our direction,” Rooney said. “So that seems to be all signs positive so far.”
The deal with Pittsburgh sets up a showdown between Rodgers and his former team, the Jets, who will host the Steelers in the season opener.
