Analyst Sends Steelers Fierce Message About Quarterback Target Aaron Rodgers

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Aaron Rodgers could be a match made in heaven for one NFL season. The Steelers need a quarterback to establish an identity offensively, and Rodgers, at 41 years old, would greatly benefit from having a top-five defense. Offensively, the Steelers have the firepower to help Rodgers get the ball out of his hands quickly, which isn't an issue for him. Rodgers is known for having a quick release and getting the ball to play-makers. The Steelers' talented group consists of DK Metcalf, George Pickens, Jaylen Warren and Pat Freiermuth, who all would make any quarterback's job easier. 

Rodgers may not be as dynamic as he once was, but he is still a very reliable quarterback who could help lead a contender to the Super Bowl. However, Rodgers has been teetering on the fence about retirement, which isn't unusual for an athlete at his age. There are not many quarterbacks who have played well into their 40s and had the type of year Rodgers did in 2024. 

Even though last season did not go as planned for Rodgers and the New York Jets, he still threw for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns. Rodgers finished in the top 10 in passing yards and touchdowns while almost being twice the age of his colleagues.  

So, the question is not if Rodgers is still capable of playing high-level football. The question that remains is whether he wants to or not. Football is a brutal game, and the seasons are long and strenuous, so maybe Rodgers is not willing to put his body through another NFL season. ESPN analyst Mike Tannenbaum recently appeared on Get Up and sent a message to the Steelers about Rodgers. 

"When a player's talking about being retired, they are retired," Tannenbaum said. "That did not sound like a person that was prepared to be a starting NFL quarterback and the rigors of a 17-game season, which is fine. It's over. If I'm the Steelers, it is over. We're moving on."

Early in April, at the Annual League Meeting, Art Rooney II provided an informal timeline on Rodgers' decision, saying the franchise would wait, but not forever. Well, it seems as if that waiting period may be approaching its expiration date. Tannenbaum is correct; when a player begins to speak about retirement, they might as well be retired. 

Playing in the NFL requires 100 percent commitment from the entire 53-man roster. So, if Rodgers is contemplating retirement, he should retire because once he agrees to a contract with any team, he is not only committing to the organization, but to the other 52 men on that roster. 

The Steelers should go ahead and thank Rodgers for his time and consideration, but let him know they are moving in a different direction. The sooner the better, so the team can redirect its focus on the draft and decide how it wants to address the quarterback issue there. The hassle it has been for the Steelers to acquire a player who will most likely only be with the organization for a year or two would only be worth it if he brings the Lombardi back to Pittsburgh, which isn't a guarantee. 

Steelers Need To Shift Focus From Aaron Rodgers At Quarterback 

The Steelers dug their own grave with this quarterback situation by not re-signing either Justin Fields or Russell Wilson. Once the team was unable to bring Fields back, it shifted its entire focus to Rodgers, and he has been the focal point since. Well, it is time for the Steelers to shift their focus away from Rodgers and either look to acquire a veteran quarterback through a trade or look to the draft for a future quarterback. 

Kirk Cousins is a guy who could still be an option for the Steelers, whether they decide to draft Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart, or Jalen Milroe. The team's best bet at this point is to pair a veteran quarterback with a rookie quarterback because of all the available veterans, none of them are long-term options, including Rodgers. 

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