For weeks, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been the only NFL franchise linked to former Green Bay Packers and New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Following his release from the Jets earlier this offseason, Rodgers reached out to the Minnesota Vikings, offering to play for them while mentoring JJ McCarthy, but the team declined and will roll into the 2025 season with the Michigan product penciled in as their starter.
The New York Giants, at one point, were also interested, but instead signed veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston while also drafting Jaxson Dart.
As Steelers fans are well aware, though, Rodgers has not signed with Pittsburgh despite the fact that they are the only team that has shown willingness to roster him in 2025.
Aaron Rodgers Has Yet to Sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Green Bay Packers, Aaron Rodgers, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers
Jan 1, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws a pass during the third quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Last month, Rodgers made an appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show” and gave a vague explanation as to why it is taking him so long to come to a final decision on the 2025 season, and his NFL future in general.
“I’m in a different phase of my life,” Rodgers said. “I’m 41 years old. I’m in a serious relationship. I have off-the-field stuff going on that requires my attention. I have personal commitments I made not knowing what my future was going to look like after last year that are important to me. And I have a couple people in my inner, inner circle that are really battling some difficult stuff.
“So, I have a lot of things that are taking my attention, and have beginning in really January, away from football. That’s been where I’ve been focusing most of my attention. To make a commitment to a team is a big thing, whether you’re a first-year player or a 20-year vet. And I had a lot of great conversations with a lot of teams. Not one of those was the Jets because that wasn’t a great conversation. … I had some good conversations, but I’ve been up-front with all of them.”
For their part, the Steelers are confident that Rodgers will eventually decide to sign with the team. Aside from selecting Will Howard in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, they did not address the quarterback position at all in the offseason.
Ian O’Connor, Author of the Aaron Rodgers Biography, Reveals When He Thinks QB Will Sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) toses the ball to New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams (17, not shown) as other teammates provide blocking, Sunday January 5, 2025, in East Rutherford., Pittsburgh Steelers
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) toses the ball to New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams (17, not shown) as other teammates provide blocking, Sunday January 5, 2025, in East Rutherford.
In a recent interview on 97.3 The Fan in Pittsburgh, Ian O’Connor, author of the Rodgers biography Out of the Darkness, revealed the date he believes Steelers fans can expect to see the future Pro Football Hall of Famer sign with their team.
“I do think there will be a happy ending, at least for him and we will find out for the Steelers and their fan base,” O’Connor said. “If I had $100 to put down, my feeling is he will be in uniform June 10th, for the start of the mandatory minicamp.”
As O’Connor notes, June 10 is the start of Pittsburgh’s mandatory mini camp. Last year, Rodgers skipped the Jets’ mandatory mini camp to take a trip to Egypt.
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