Aaron Rodgers chooses the Pittsburgh Steelers as his next team
The Pittsburgh Steelers painted themselves into a proverbial corner when it comes to their 2025 quarterback, and after losing out on Justin Fields in free agency the team had limited options. The Steelers put their hope in being able to land Aaron Rodgers, the veteran who was released by the New York Jets, but Rodgers has hesitated on making a final decision.
The decision wasn’t just if Rodgers will play in 2025, or call it a career, but also choosing between viable options left in the NFL. The front-runners for Rodgers were the Steelers, New York Giants and the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings were reportedly dismissed, and it became a two-horse race to land Rodgers services this upcoming season. With Russell Wilson headed to the Giants, it left just one truly viable team remaining.
The announcement was finally made by Rodgers, who reportedly chose the Steelers as where he’ll play in 2025.
Renegade A-Rod: Four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers informed the #Steelers he’ll fly to Pittsburgh on Friday and sign before next week’s minicamp, sources tell The Insiders.
Finally, a done deal: Rodgers, 41, will play his 21st NFL season in black and gold. pic.twitter.com/zuDXWrSDG0
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 5, 2025
As expected the deal is expected to be a one-year contract, with the contract details still unknown.
While Rodgers joining the Steelers might feel like the best of what’s available, the Steelers organization did address the position in multiple ways. Rodgers will now join Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson, who signed a Future/Reserve contract this offseason, and rookie Will Howard as the quarterbacks on the roster. The Steelers like to go into camp with four quarterbacks, and Rodgers joining the team has made it clear who those four signal callers will be this summer in Latrobe.
Rodgers will get at least one more shot at winning a Super Bowl, and that will be with the Steelers before he most likely calls it a career.
Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the Mandatory Minicamp next week.
As much as fans may not like it, I say welcome to the 412.
Time to strap in folks, because it’s going to be one roller coaster of a season, lol.
I’m as big a Mason fan as anyone. I really badly wanted to see him get a legit shot with an offense built around his strengths. For once. However, I have warmed to the idea of Rodgers since my initial, “Hell no!” reaction back in March. So, let’s do this thing!
Why not, at least it ain’t Cousins, or Bill Nelson in ’65.
Ahh. The media can rest easy. They finally have their story.
Until future teammates are thrown under the bus, post-game.
What’s the over:under before he starts getting people fired? Asking for a friend.
Don’t do over/under, set odds it happens at -125, most likely Smith.
It’s not done yet, but I feel a little bad for the media…..what are they gonna talk about now. Que the WR X to the Steelers articles….
Already talking about Lazard, JoeB. Next, Marcedes Lewis, for TE3. Wanna bet?
Would’ve been a okay with Rudolph and Howard, but this is fine too. Go Steelers
Well, damn.
I became a fan in the late ’70s, and I have followed the Steelers faithfully every season I can remember since. But this is not the organization that captured my loyalty. The team I was passionate about stood for some things, it had an identity, one that I was proud to support.
*This* — is not that team.
Peas all, enjoyed the community here. Will probably see you next year.
Grinch, as a Pgh fan since the ’60s, remember to come back when you see change. Take care.
I hear you but, to me, being a fan trumps that. I can’t stand Aaron Rodgers being a Steeler but that won’t stop me from supporting the team. I will actively root for Rodgers to fail while I root for Steelers to succeed at the time, as unlikely as that occurrence is.
I see that Rodgers has signed and to be honest it is what it is. People get bent out of shape because the Steelers decided to pursue him but to me that’s there prerogative to do so. For those that are harping on the Steelers for signing Rodgers, what’s the point of complaining? Tell me something do you really think the Steelers care what fans think of every decision they make? He’s here and that’s it. You can do the right thing and accept the fact that Rodgers is the new QB 1, or you can do the wrong thing and keep complaining till your blue in the face.
Nope, Steelers’ FO doesn’t care what fans think. You’re making progress, 87. And it’s likely folks will do as they will despite what 87 thinks, or types. Way of the world.
Or just walk away for a year or two.
Wow. I’m with on the entire post. Well said.
I look at your last line: “You can do the right thing and accept the fact that Rodgers is the new QB 1, or you can do the wrong thing and keep complaining till you’re blue in the face.” Change the words Rodgers to Tomlin and new QB 1 to head coach and this is exactly what I was saying once the Steelers said that Tomlin wasn’t going anywhere for next season. You could complain about it all offseason or realize it is what it is and hope they build a better team.
To me, the Steelers make this addition because they believe it makes their team better in 2025. Some may feel that’s the wrong decision. I did not want the Steelers to make this move if it was going to cost them $30 million. I will be very interested to see what the numbers are once he signs, but if the $10 million that he said on McAfee ends up being what it is, I’m fine with this.
Accepting the decision and complaining about it aren’t mutually exclusive, though. Why does it have to be one or the other? I 100% hate the decision to bring Rodgers here (Rodgers allowing the Steelers to sign him is probably more accurate) and will 100% complain about it. I 100% accept it too and will still support the team even if it means not supporting Rodgers.
You and Mr. 87 aren’t recognizing the gray area between bitterness and resignation. You can be both.
Correct. If AARod acts as a professional committed to playing near-perfect football in the pursuit of a championship while disregarding pressure to perform his role well, then most folks will be just fine.
We’ll see what happens in due time. Frankly, I’m surprised AARod signed this early, Favre took much longer to sign w/Vikings in ’09.
I don’t see you as complaining though. You don’t like it. That’s fine. You accept it. It is what it is. You are not at all what I had in mind when agreeing with his statement.
Acceptance requires time for some folks.
This definitely injects lots more interest into what had been looking very much like a lost season from the outset. As for Mason Rudolph, it must be like Groundhog Day because he likely reverts to his familiar role as the team’s chief clipboard-holder.
How this plays out largely depends on Aaron’s mental attitude in approaching his new teammates and surroundings. If Rodgers arrives with the right mindset and appears determined to wind up his NFL career as a winner, the Steelers might have gained serious, playoff potential. But if the injury bug flares up again — or if Rodgers allows his head to get the best of him — it might strictly be a rerun of last season.
But I disagree with the prevalent view that Rodgers is washed up. He’s still a very capable quarterback who can make all the throws. And he’s certainly smart enough to recognize, for example, that Jaylen Warren can become a real weapon as a receiver — something Russell Wilson never seemed to grasp.
One thing for sure is that nobody on the Steelers offense needs to wonder anymore about whether the QB will be capable of leading the charge. Rodgers already has proven himself as one of the all-time NFL greats. So it looks like the arrow clearly is pointing upward as we get closer to the start of training camp.
We shall see. Would be welcome. It’s a jungle out there, ya know.
Generally agree with your take, except I was very interested in seeing what a fully implemented A. Smith offense looks like. My longshot hope was that we give Rudolph a chance to be more than a sub.
a true Pittsburgh Steelers fan, since the 70’s signing Aaron Rodgers is a very, very big mistake because it’s unfair to Mason Rudolph if he doesn’t start at quarterback and all the sports media groups and Steelers haters with their rat poison are complete idiots
Fair? I am sure I don’t have to tell there is no fairness in the NFL only performance. Tomlin knows Rudolph and his game as well or better than anyone. He knows whether he thinks he is QB1 material. With the signing of Rodgers, we know the answer is Tomlin does not believe Rudolph is.
Yeah, but that’s making an assumption that Tomlin knows a damn thing about QBs! I think the final 5-6 weeks of the 2023 season should have made it very clear to all fans that Tomlin had zero clue. I love Mason as QB and wanted to see him this year, but I am NOT saying he’s the answer. I just KNOW for a fact that when Tomlin decides something, it takes God Himself to move him off that belief. To the detriment of this team at times…
Yes again, regarding Tomlin, on all points. Recall Tomlin’s reticence at playing MR2 when Pickett and Trubisky demonstrated poor play in ’23. Noll in 1974 was better than Tomlin!
That’s rings true for every HOF Coach. For all the love Noll gets for getting the team 4 Rings let’s not pretend he didn’t have bad drafts, never truly replaced Bradshaw, no consistent 1,000 RB till Cowher took over in 92 and in fact look at the RB’s Noll had after Harris and Bleier were gone it’s a who’s who of “I don’t remember some of these names at all”.
Parcell’s never developed a QB in his tenure, yet he gets a pass on that. Belichick never found a true replacement for Brady but because he has 6 Rings, he’s essentially given a free pass. Great Coaches no matter what profession will always struggle to find the Heir Apparent to a Great player. Tell me something people after Steve Young retired in 2000 what great QB has there been in SF?
GB went from Favre to Rodgers to now Love but when Love first took over let’s not pretend that many didn’t question what in heck they were doing. Don’t forget that Love was never thought of as anything more than a wasted draft pick when he first started.
Point being it’s easy a fan to assume that the next guy who is hyped up will be the answer but as they say “You know what happens when you assume”.
Uh,okay? It’s all good, I expect AARod to win 11 regular season games in ’25, particularly the one I am attending. What do you think? Could it happen?
I’m not sure how this relates to my comment. I simply said Tomlin has proven he has great difficulty judging QB talent. Which in turn was directed at a comment that sated “Tomlin knows whether he thinks he is QB1 talent”. And my reply was simply stating, “I don’t think Tomlin has demonstrated that he DOES know…”
I get that but as I said it rings true for every HOF Coach.
C’mon. will AARod win 11 regular season games? I gots to know..
Yes, that’s clear regarding Tomlin.
Mason Rudolph has had opportunities to show he should be the guy, and he has not taken advantage of those. He’s a solid backup QB.
The “unfair to Mason” narrative doesn’t hold water. He has had his chances. Can’t get more fair than that.
Perhaps, from a certain point of view. If the ship sailed, then it has gone. We’re done and on to the next one.
Whelp, for as much as I held out hope that this wouldn’t happen my rational self knew that it was inevitable. Shame on the Steelers for becoming so desperate that they allowed a mercenary to dictate the terms of becoming a Steeler to begin with. Make no mistake, Aaron Rodgers determined that he was going to play for the Steelers this year. The Steelers had little to do with it as evidenced by their never really considering anything else. It was Aaron Rodgers or bust with Aaron Rodgers being the decider.
It will an interesting watch this year, one where I openly route for our QB to fail while rooting for the team to win. On the bright side, Rodgers only wanted a one year contact. Had he wanted a multi-year deal, the Steelers would have given it to him.
Hang in there, Jon.
Here’s the jist of it…… I see alot here (and know a few) who are upset and can’t get behind the signing. Understood, your version of being a fan may vary from mine. Capt. Ayahuasca does that to people, just rubs them the wrong way……. But for me, I’m a Steelers fan, and I LOVE FOOTBALL. I could never take a season off, it is that ingrained in my soul. I want the Steelers to win!
Rodgers makes us a better football team, and with him, we have a punchers chance at winning……. an Old, tomato can punchers chance, but still a chance! Rodgers to Metcalf sounds like winning, and Rodgers to Friermuth sounds like a match made in heaven! Let’s play Defense, Run the hell out of the ball, and protect the football. Capt. Ayahuasca can do that guys!
GO STEELERS! Can’t wait for the season!
SA, I think we’ll see. Your enthusiasm is heartening.
I’m not upset by the signing, but I’m not celebrating it either.
Rodgers instantly becomes the best QB on our roster this year, and maybe that leads to a couple more wins. But it doesn’t make us a true contender. I will gladly eat my crow if Rodgers leads us to the Super Bowl.
I just hope that extra couple wins doesn’t screw us in terms of being in position to move up and draft a long-term answer at the position (we know Mason isn’t it, and while I would love for Hoard to be that guy, we also know that’s not very likely either).
Yes, I agree, done and dusted. I’m interested in 11 regular season wins–though a Super Bowl trip would also be great. Can’t wait to see it play out in the stadiums!
After a nice pasta and salad, I feel better.
It was garlic and parmesan wings for me. Impatiently waiting for the regular season!
As I was for Mason being qb1 & have confidence in what he could do with the team I do think Rogers is an upgrade ( how much is yet to be seen) given his reseme’. As long he is all in & no drama ( team first)! I do believe he wants to go out on a good note & not end his career I the way of last year ( with his ego) . Hopefully Mason will get his shot next year until the rookie we pick r picked this year is ready. Who knows it’s a long season. All that being said LETS GO AARON,
HERE WE GO!!!
I’ve said it since 2010, Rodgers doesn’t win that SB if Pouncey plays…. Welcome to the Burgh, Mr Rodgers new neighborhood. Conflicted but still rooting!!