Ian Rapoport doesn’t buy Mike Florio’s latest Aaron Rodgers speculation. Opining on the waiting game and drumming up his own theories for why Rodgers hasn’t agreed to re-sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Florio floated a take that Rodgers wants Pittsburgh to verbally agree to releasing Rodgers midseason if the year is going south. Florio admits it’s his own out-loud thinking and not reporting. Still, Rapoport made sure to squash the idea as only existing inside Florio’s head.
“I really don’t,” Rapoport told the Between The Tackles podcast in an interview published Wednesday. “I don’t know what that would be. Contractually, there’s only so much you can guarantee. What could you say? Get your release if you get benched. He can get that anyway.”
This “clause” Florio floated is something Pittsburgh could not put into Rodgers’ contract, a point even Florio has acknowledged. It would be nothing more than a handshake agreement. As Rapoport notes, it’s a topic that could be broached if the time comes and a scenario that isn’t likely. The Steelers haven’t had a losing season since going 6-10 in 2003 and an upgraded roster will have them in the hunt throughout the season.
Florio’s initial comments are something we decided against writing because of silly it sounded. It’s only worth noting once a top insider pushes back on what’s become a popular narrative.
Florio is doing the same dance as last year. Offering his own half-baked theory every step of the way. Maybe Rodgers will show up at the draft. He didn’t. Maybe there’s a secret clause he wants the team to bend to. That’s doubtful.
Pittsburgh is talking to Rodgers’ agent, David Dunn, and Rapoport thinks that process is normal without any wink-nod needed.
“His agent is very good,” he said. “He’s done a very good job for a long time. I think he’d like to do his thing. Agents have their thing. I just don’t know that there’d be any contractual protections he could get, taking him off the field.”
With OTAs on the horizon, the Steelers could soon find out Rodgers’ answer. Or if 2026’s saga mirrors 2025’s, the team may need to wait two more weeks until June before Rodgers signs ahead of mandatory minicamp. Rodgers is waiting because he can and that’s the simplest and truest reason of them all.
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