Before the New York Giants landed on a combination of Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, the team reportedly kicked around the idea of taking on the former MVP passer, Aaron Rodgers.
Back in March, an ESPN report shed some light on the Giants' quarterback situation ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. It was suggested that the Giants could be in a small market of teams waiting for Aaron Rodgers to make a decision, following his departure from the New York Jets.
The Giants didn't see a reason to wait much longer. There was a shortlist of veterans available, which included Russell Wilson, Joe Flacco, and Winston. New York double-dipped on those options before spending a late first-round pick on the Ole Miss quarterback, Jaxson Dart, in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Eventually, Rodgers made his pick in free agency. The veteran quarterback chose to put pen to paper with the Steelers, and he'll search for a potential final shot at competing for a Super Bowl.
As Rodgers settles in out in Pittsburgh, the veteran quarterback was recently asked about his past discussions with the Giants. The new Steeler chose to deny any interest in playing for the other New York organization.
"It was here or not play," Rodgers told reporters this week.
At this point, Rodgers is simply making it known he's all in on what the Steelers have to offer. Although Pittsburgh hasn't been dubbed as a top Super Bowl contender in the AFC this season, they have proven to remain at least competitive in the past four out of five years, making the Wild Card round all but once.
The Steelers hope that the addition of Rodgers can be a difference-maker. While he's past his prime at age 41, Rodgers carries plenty of experience with him, especially when it comes to playoff football.
Out of 20 seasons, Rodgers has been a part of 12 playoff runs. Each time was during his run with the Green Bay Packers. In postseason play, Rodgers holds an 11-10 record. He's thrown for over 5,000 yards and 45 touchdowns in the postseason, while only throwing 13 picks in nearly 800 pass attempts.
While the playoff experience is ideal for Pittsburgh, the fact that Rodgers hasn't been in the postseason since 2021 is certainly a concern. His recent injury history and only full season with the Jets also raises some important questions as well.
After recovering from a season-ending Achilles tear, Rodgers played 17 games for the Jets in 2024. He completed 63 percent of his passes, throwing for over 3,800 yards and 28 touchdowns. The Jets had a struggle-filled season that ended with them achieving a 5-12 record and missing the playoffs.
Rodgers heads to Pittsburgh to replace the combination of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. The latter quarterback will get a third shot with the Jets, while Wilson ended up in New York and received a verbal commitment to become the starting QB for the Giants in 2025.
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This story was originally published June 12, 2025 at 11:51 AM.