The Pittsburgh Steelers have been entangled in the Aaron Rodgers sweepstakes for far longer than fans had hoped. Rodgers, the now 41-year-old, four-time league MVP, is reportedly in no rush to make his decision. With his options dwindling and alternative quarterback choices for the Steelers wearing thin, many insiders believe it's only a matter of time until Rodgers is signed and named the starting quarterback for the 2025 season in Pittsburgh.
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Former New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers puts both his arms in the air to celebrate a big time touchdown at home during the 2024 NFL season.
The biggest competitor to the Steelers' plans is Rodgers deciding he needs to retire, a prospect that adds urgency to the ongoing discussions. On Monday morning, it was reported that new Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf was throwing with Rodgers, working out together—a promising sign for the franchise. NFL insider Ian Rapoport even went as far as to say that the workout was very good, fueling further speculation about Rodgers’ imminent role in the team.
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan shared his authentic reaction to the news, via ESPN's Brooke Pryor, expressing cautious optimism about the pairing of Rodgers and Metcalf. Khan’s response suggests that the team sees potential in this collaboration as a step toward solidifying their quarterback situation. With these developments, the Steelers are poised at a critical juncture, where the decision to sign Rodgers could mark a pivotal moment in their quest for future success.
"I wasn't there, but that's good if that did happen, I’d say that," Khan told the Pittsburgh media on Monday morning.
The quote from Khan may be simple, but the fact that the Steelers' general manager views Rodgers and Metcalf working out together as a good sign speaks volumes. It offers a rare glimpse into how Khan and the team’s top decision-makers feel about potentially adding Rodgers. While nothing is official yet, the Steelers’ leadership seems to be keeping a close eye on the situation, and their interest appears to be serious.
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Former New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers meets with Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin after a game in Pittsburgh.
Rodgers' 2024 season started off slow as he worked his way back from the Achilles injury that sidelined him the previous year. However, as the season progressed, he noticeably improved, proving that he could still perform at a high level. Many around the league continue to view Rodgers as a highly talented quarterback, even at this late stage in his career. If Pittsburgh ultimately brings him in, it won’t just be based on his past success—it will be because they believe he can still win games right now. Even though Rodgers only won five games with the New York Jets during the 2024 NFL season.
It’s clear that the Steelers are evaluating whether Rodgers is the right option to bridge the gap while they continue searching for their long-term answer at quarterback. Bringing in a veteran to hold things together has been their approach since Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement, but it hasn’t produced lasting success. At some point, they’ll need to find stability at the position, rather than relying on short-term fixes.
The Steelers' handling of the quarterback position in recent years hasn’t been a sustainable model for long-term success, and the organization is well aware of that. Whether Rodgers is a temporary solution or something more remains to be seen, but his potential arrival would signal yet another attempt to keep the team competitive while they work toward a more permanent answer under center.
Steelers Took Fan Feedback Seriously And Made Major Changes
Many Steelers fans feel that the organization hasn’t taken their feedback seriously, believing the team prefers to stay stagnant and is reluctant to embrace change. While that may hold true for Head Coach Mike Tomlin, it’s not the case when it comes to the most important position in football. The Steelers recognized the impact that Justin Fields and Russell Wilson had on their 2024 season and realized they needed a significant change under center.
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Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin shakes hands with former New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers after a game as quarterback Russell Wilson looks on in the background.
In response, the team made a bold move to pursue Rodgers, a change as big as it gets when it comes to roster building. Whether it will pay off remains to be seen, but some fans could argue that the Steelers did indeed listen to feedback and acted accordingly. However, it's clear that not all of the changes the fan base hoped for have been realized.
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