Four-time MVP quarterbacks and first-ballot Hall of Famers come to teams who wait. And wait. And wait.
After weeks of waiting and considering his different options, 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers has finally chosen his new NFL home. The four-time NFL MVP is inking a one-year contract with the legendary Pittsburgh Steelers, sources told CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. Rodgers will be on hand and participate in the Steelers mandatory minicamp next week.
The long, anticipated news comes nearly three months since the start of free agency and 70 days after Rodgers initially visited the Steelers. Sources told ESPN’s senior NFL insider Adam Schefter that Rodgers plans to fly to Pittsburgh on Friday and join the Steelers prior to next week’s mandatory minicamp.
“I wasn’t stringing anyone along. I wasn’t holding anyone hostage,” Rodgers told “The Pat McAfee Show” in an appearance April 17. “I was honest from the jump about where I was at mentally and some of the constraints I have in my life right now that warrant my attention.
“I’m open to anything and attached to nothing. Retirement could still be a possibility, but right now my focus has been — and will continue to be — on my personal life. And that’s what I’ve told the coaches. There’s still conversations that are being had. It’s all been very honest lines of communication.”
The Steelers were one of a trio of teams viewed to be in the Rodgers sweepstakes. The New York Football Giants were another, but they opted to sign two other veterans, Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson. The Minnesota Vikings were also a dark horse team to watch, as they never completely shut the door on having potential interest in Rodgers.
The Steelers made it clear at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis that they wanted to re-sign either Wilson or Justin Fields at the quarterback position before the start of free agency but came up empty on both fronts. Now, Pittsburgh has committed to going the veteran quarterback route for another year while bringing back career backup Mason Rudolph and drafting Ohio State quarterback Will Howard in the seventh round.
Rodgers, who spent the past two years with the New York Jets, is coming off the worst season of his Hall-of-Fame, 20-year career. He registered career-worsts in games lost (12), yards per attempt (6.7) and passer rating (90.5). Many experts thought he was done.
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In 2024, Rodgers threw for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, and became only the fifth quarterback in NFL history to reach 500 career touchdown passes.
While the Steelers can now feel more comfortable and at ease having grabbed a solid seat in this stressful game of quarterback musical chairs, the controversial decision to sign Rodgers will be a polarizing one in Pittsburgh. After all, Rodgers has more losing seasons (three) than playoff wins (two) since 2017. In fact, earlier this offseason Steelers safety DeShon Elliott even commented on a social media post pointing to the fact that the Steelers became the betting favorites to land Rodgers’ services, saying, “Leave his ass at the retirement home.”
The Steelers are attempting to reignite a struggling offense that was up and down like a seesaw and much too inconsistent in 2024. The Steelers pulled off a trade for former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf and gave him a five-year, $150 million contract last month, and now, has found their new quarterback to throw him the ball.
