After weeks of speculation and exploring his options, Aaron Rodgers has officially found his next NFL home. The four-time MVP quarterback is signing a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to CBS Sports insider Jonathan Jones. Rodgers is expected to report to Pittsburgh's mandatory minicamp next week.
The Steelers were one of three teams in serious contention to land the future Hall-of-Famer. The New York Giants were also in the mix but ultimately chose to sign Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson instead. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Vikings were involved in discussions before pivoting to 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, who missed his entire rookie year due to injury.
Steelers Pivot to Veteran QB After Missing on Fields and Wilson
Pittsburgh had made it clear during the NFL Scouting Combine that they were targeting either Justin Fields or Russell Wilson to solidify their quarterback situation ahead of free agency. But after striking out on both, the Steelers have now gone all-in on veteran leadership, bringing back Mason Rudolph and selecting Will Howard from Ohio State in the seventh round of the draft.
Rodgers arrives in Pittsburgh after a challenging stint with the New York Jets. In what was statistically the worst season of his career, he missed 12 games and recorded career-lows in yards per attempt (6.7) and passer rating (90.5). Despite the setbacks, he still threw for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 2024, becoming just the fifth quarterback in NFL history to surpass 500 career touchdown passes.
Rodgers’ Arrival Sparks Mixed Reactions in Pittsburgh
While many Steelers fans are excited about adding a high-profile name under center, the move has been divisive. Rodgers hasn’t won more than two playoff games since 2017 and has endured three losing seasons during that span. Earlier this offseason, safety DeShon Elliott even took to social media to voice his skepticism, responding to a post about Pittsburgh being betting favorites to land Rodgers with: “Leave his ass at the retirement home.”
Steelers Reshaping Their Offense Around Rodgers
Rodgers won’t be alone in trying to revive Pittsburgh’s offense. Last month, the team made a major splash by trading for former Seahawks star DK Metcalf, then locking him into a massive five-year, $150 million deal. With Rodgers now in place, the Steelers are clearly betting on a high-powered offense to turn things around after a frustratingly inconsistent 2024 season.
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