Steelers' Art Rooney II Gives New Timetable And Update On Aaron Rodgers: "He Does Want To Come Here"

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been on the hunt for a quarterback for weeks. The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft didn't bring a conclusion to the saga, as Pittsburgh opted to bolster its trenches, as opposed to going for a rookie quarterback. It could be that the Steelers didn't feel that the quarterback class of this year's draft had enough depth, and it wasn't worth using the 21st overall pick on a backup-caliber signal-caller. 

The Steelers once seemed content to wait for a decision from veteran Aaron Rodgers. However, Rodgers has taken longer and longer to make a decision. Although a deal between Rodgers and the Steelers seems farther away than ever now, Steelers Owner Art Rooney II recently had a promising outlook on the situation.

On Friday, Rooney spoke on Steeler Nation Radio just before the beginning of the second round of the draft. Rooney addressed the team's situation with Rodgers and had a positive prediction for the team negotiations with Rodgers going forward. 

"We're still kind of getting the same signals we've been getting recently that he does want to come here," said Rooney. "I do think we may get word soon, obviously, with things starting to crank up here with the offseason program, etc. If he's coming, we would like to get him here soon for some of that."

It's an optimistic prediction considering the Steelers have been waiting on Rodgers for weeks, and no one predicted it would take this long as it is. However, with Organized Team Activities (OTAs) beginning soon, and the prospect of the Steelers getting another signal-caller through the draft or signing a veteran, Rodgers may have been given more urgency to make a decision. 

The last anyone heard from Rodgers officially was the quarterback's appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. The Steelers reportedly haven't heard from Rodgers since, but if Rooney's hunch is correct, then that wait could be nearly over. During his appearance, Rodgers cited his personal life as the biggest factor that has prevented him from making a decision regarding the next step in his pro football career. Whatever the specifics are, no one will likely be able to predict what Rodgers does next.

It's been speculated before that the beginning of the Steelers' offseason activities would press Rodgers to make a decision. However, Rodgers has missed out on offseason training before. During the quarterback's first offseason with the New York Jets, Rodgers skipped a mandatory minicamp, instead going on a pre-planned trip to Egypt. In an ideal world, the Steelers' offseason training would motivate Rodgers to get a deal done, but the quarterback may be perfectly comfortable missing the upcoming OTAs.

During his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers said that he didn't want to hold teams hostage, and the Steelers were free to make a decision without him. The next offseason activities for the Steelers will be on May 27th. It's worth noting that the training will not be mandatory. 

Steelers May Make The Most Sense For Rodgers, Whether He Realizes It Or Not

While Rodgers hasn't made a decision about the future of his career yet, he may not even know if he wants to keep playing professional football, period. However, if Rodgers wants another shot in the NFL, he won't be in it for the money. Rather, he will sign with the team that gives him the best chance of going on a deep playoff run and ending his career on a high note. 

Although Rodgers is a future Hall of Famer, he is past his prime now, and not many teams are willing to show him the patience that the Steelers have. The Steelers may not only be Rodgers' best option, but his only option, besides retirement.

Do you think Pittsburgh will hear from Rodgers soon? Do you think Rodgers wants to be a Steeler? Let us know in the comments.

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