Everybody is weighing in on Aaron Rodgers‘ impending decision on whether to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers, except for Aaron Rodgers.
So far, Rodgers has only told The Pat McAfee Show, “There’s no deadline that’s been put in front of me. There’s no contract offer or anything, so there’s nothing that I’m having to debate between. I’m a free agent. Again, I’m enjoying my time with my wife and enjoying this part of the offseason, and I think there’s conversations to be had down the line, but right now, there hasn’t been any progressive conversations.”
In the meantime, anyone from ESPN’s Adam Schefter to Steelers All-Pro defensive lineman Cameron Heyward has projected that Rodgers will eventually re-sign with Pittsburgh. The four-time NFL MVP signed a one-year contract with the Steelers last June, so even if inevitable, this could drag on for a while.
Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., recently traded from Indianapolis to Pittsburgh, completed the unofficial Steelers ritual of commenting on Rodgers’ future on Monday morning.
“I don’t know nothin’!” Pittman Jr. told Kay Adams on Up & Adams. “I haven’t talked to Aaron. I’m trying to give him space because Aaron’s a guy - he likes his space. He likes to get refreshed. I didn’t want to just get signed and then blow him up and be like, ‘Hey, Aaron, what’s the deal?’ Just give him time. Him and his wife, they gotta handle some things, and then he will decide if he wants to come back or not.”
Pittman Jr. continued, “But the fact that he’s still out doing flag football stuff and all that, I think that he wants to play. Just knowing Aaron prior to this, I just think that he’s gonna try to play as long as he can. He’s a beast.”
Adams asked if Pittman Jr. senses anything in conversations with newly hired Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy that would indicate Pittsburgh is in for a similar waiting game as last year.
“I mean, I think they’re gonna give him the most time that he needs. But, at the end of the day, we also have two other quarterbacks on roster that I think are great guys, too, in Will [Howard] and Mason [Rudolph]. We have really good plans, whether he doesn’t come back or whether he does. We can rock with the guys we have now. Obviously, hoping that he comes back.”
Rodgers, 42, has played 21 seasons in the NFL since the Green Bay Packers drafted him No. 24 overall in 2005. McCarthy served as Packers head coach for 13 years and coached Rodgers for the majority of the All-Pro’s tenure as Green Bay’s QB1. The two led the Packers to a Super Bowl XLV title by defeating the Steelers, ironically, 15 years ago.
Last season, Rodgers’ bread and butter was the quick game. His numbers were efficient - 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, seven interceptions on 65.7% completion - but the Steelers’ passing attack lacked teeth. The idea, presumably, is to improve that with Pittman Jr. in the fold as a steady, possession receiver to open up DK Metcalf downfield.
As Pittman Jr. alluded to, the Steelers currently have veteran backup Mason Rudolph and 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard in the QB room. Rudolph has spent all but one season in Pittsburgh since 2018, and Howard has yet to take his first NFL snap.
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