Future NFL Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers has yet to announce his plans for the 2025 season. The New York Jets cut ties with the veteran signal-caller in March, and speculation continues to run rampant about where Rodgers will eventually land—whether in the NFL or retirement.
As the 2025 NFL Draft approaches, Rodgers’ silence is likely playing a significant role in one team’s draft strategies. The Pittsburgh Steelers are in need of a quarterback. Former Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson departed the franchise in free agency and landed with the Giants. Wilson’s primary backup in Pittsburgh, Justin Fields, signed a two-year deal with the Jets and is presumably replacing Rodgers as their starting quarterback.
The Steelers have reportedly offered Rodgers a contract, but his elusiveness isn’t lost on many football fans, and it has led to some funny moments on social media.
Rodgers’ Silence on NFL Future Draws Playful Jab From Former Teammate David Bakhtiari
Rodgers recently appeared on The Pat McAfee Show to discuss his future, but his interview led to more questions than answers. It didn’t take long for social media to launch into a frenzy after coming from the segment without a definitive conclusion to his free agent saga.
On Saturday, Fantasy Points CEO Scott Barrett jumped into the fray by posting a scene from a movie where the character talked about having a highly philosophical dream of being two animals joined as one, with the confusing meaning that good things were coming.
The Pittsburgh Steelers: "So, are you retiring or what? We have Shedeur in on a visit and it sounds like he's going to fall to us…"
Aaron Rodgers: pic.twitter.com/guEbNFClda
— Scott Barrett (@ScottBarrettDFB) April 17, 2025
Rodgers’ former teammate, David Bakhtiari, then quoted Barrett’s original tweet, agreeing with the message while tagging the quarterback in the message.
Probably. @AaronRodgers12 https://t.co/YxtPKfBNjy
— David Bakhtiari (@DavidBakhtiari) April 18, 2025
Bakhtiari, a former fourth-round pick, played with Rodgers from 2013 to 2022 in Green Bay, starting on the team’s offensive line for most of his time with the organization.
But this wasn’t the first time Bakhtiari jumped on the opportunity to throw a playful jab at Rodgers.
In 2023, the first season after Rodgers departed the Packers, Bakhtiari was asked what it was like to play with Jordan Love as the team employed a more run-pass offense to complement the younger quarterback. The veteran offensive lineman said it was a completely different experience.
“Because Aaron is slow as s–t,” Bakhtiari joked. “Now we actually have an athletic quarterback who can move around.”
Rodgers played in all 17 games for the Jets last season, throwing for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. However, the team finished 5-12 and failed to sniff the playoffs.
In 20 NFL seasons, Rodgers has thrown for 62,952 yards and 503 career touchdowns. He boasts a career 153-87-1 regular season record and led the Packers to a Super Bowl victory in 2010.