The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently without a clear starting quarterback for 2025, and the team's apparent first choice, Aaron Rodgers, has yet to announce that he wants to sign with the team. At first, it looked like the Steelers were willing to wait for Rodgers to make a decision on his own time. However, Steelers fans have begun to have doubts as Rodgers has taken longer and longer to make up his mind. If Rodgers wants to end his football career on a high note, then Pittsburgh seems like his best option. Rodgers is a unique personality, and it's unlikely anyone will be able to predict what's going on in his mind. NFL analyst Tom Pelissero spoke on Wednesday about what he thinks could be holding up Rodgers' decision.
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Steelers' 2025 offseason target Aaron Rodgers after a game with the Green Bay Packers in 2014.
On Wednesday, Pelissero appeared as a guest on the Ross Tucker Football Podcast and spoke about the Steelers' difficulty signing Rodgers. Pelissero said that Rodgers has never been enthusiastic about Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and that as an NFL Players Association representative, Rodgers argued players shouldn't be required to do anything before August 1st.
"For years, he's (Rodgers) not wanted to do the offseason stuff," said Pelissero. "When he was an NFL Players Association representative during the 2020 collective bargaining talks, he was the loudest voice saying, 'We shouldn't have to do anything prior to August 1st.' Essentially wipe the entire spring, OTAs, minicamps, everything."
Many speculated that the start of the Steelers' OTAs would be a deadline for Rodgers to make a decision. It might seem certain that Rodgers would want to participate in OTAs in order to get a better feel for the team's offense. However, Rodgers has been perfectly comfortable not attending team activities in the past. In Rodgers' first offseason with the New York Jets, the quarterback didn't attend the team's mandatory minicamp in order to travel for a pre-planned trip to Egypt.
It's possible that Rodgers hasn't ruled out becoming a Steeler, but simply wants to avoid training, and swoop in closer to the start of the season to take the starting spot.
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Former New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers puts on his cap during an away game.
The last anyone publicly heard from Rodgers was the quarterback's appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. On the episode, Rodgers cited personal reasons as the main reason for his lack of a decision. Pelissero confirmed that this was what he had also heard and that it was likely the biggest factor contributing to Rodgers taking his time choosing what team to sign with, if the quarterback wants to keep playing football at all.
Rodgers will be 42 at the end of the 2025 season. Pelissero said that Rodgers is beginning to show his age on the field, especially when the quarterback takes a big hit.
"I just know when I see him on the ground, when he gets hit, it looks like it hurts," said Pelissero.
Rodgers' last season with the Jets was far from a good end to the quarterback's career in the NFL. It was thought that Rodgers may want to continue playing simply to end things on a high note. If that's the case, as mentioned, Rodgers' best option seems like the Steelers. However, if Rodgers begins to feel that he isn't physically up for the task, he could opt for retirement.
Steelers Have A Complicated Quarterback Situation Outside Of Rodgers
The Steelers have put a lot of faith in Rodgers coming to Pittsburgh. Steelers' Art Rooney II is certain that the quarterback still wants to join the team. However, the Steelers would be foolish not to be prepared if a Rodgers deal ends up falling through.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive line attacks former New York Jets' Aaron Rodgers during a regular season game in 2024.
Currently on the team's roster, the Steelers have rookie Will Howard, and veterans Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson. Between the three, Rudolph seems the most likely to be the starter, given that he has experience with the Steelers' offense already. However, given that the Steelers let Rudolph leave as a free agent at the end of the 2023 season, it's apparent that he isn't the Steelers' first choice, and he was likely only signed as a backup plan for the possibility that Pittsburgh is unable to sign Rodgers.
Do you think Rodgers is waiting to sign with Pittsburgh to avoid OTAs? Do you think Rodgers would make a strong starter for the Steelers? Let us know in the comments.
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