Pittsburgh Steelers fans have been watching Aaron Rodgers closely for weeks. The two sides have been linked since the start of free agency, and everything Rodgers does has fans wondering what it means for his future.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin knows how to handle big personalities. At the recent NFL owners’ meeting, Tomlin told the media the team hasn’t set a deadline for Rodgers. He said they enjoyed getting to know him during a recent meeting, but reminded everyone that free agency takes time.
Steelers Fans Should Be Thrilled With Recent Workout
While Tomlin might not be rushing Rodgers, fans are eager for a decision. So when news broke that Rodgers had a private throwing session with DK Metcalf — Pittsburgh’s biggest offseason pickup — fans started wondering if that was a sign.
According to former Rodgers teammate James Jones, it definitely is. Jones played with Rodgers on the Green Bay Packers team that beat the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.
Now a co-host on Fox Sports 1’s “The Facility,” Jones told his fellow hosts that quarterbacks don’t just throw with random receivers. He said they could both be training at the same offseason facility, but not for a private session like this.
“Steelers fans should absolutely be excited about Aaron Rodgers throwing to DK Metcalf,” Jones said.
“No.1 , is letting the Steelers Nation know he wants to play football. No. 2, I don’t know if you all know but ya’ll’s quarterback right now is Mason Rudolph. I don’t really know how far you guys are going to go with Mason Rudolph. So to have a guy in Aaron Rodgers who’s capable of making those two dudes, DK and George Pickens, really, really good players. It lets me know it’s going to be the Steelers.”
He added that it doesn’t make sense for Metcalf or Rodgers to link up for old times’ sake. If Rodgers isn’t heading to Pittsburgh, Jones doesn’t think either of them would waste their time.
Steelers’ Options Are Limited
The Steelers have gone all-in on Rodgers. They did not re-sign Russell Wilson or Justin Fields in free agency, and they didn’t make a move for Sam Darnold.
That leaves them with Mason Rudolph, who’s spent six seasons in Pittsburgh mostly as a backup. While he led a late-season push in 2023, he’s never been a consistent starter.
Rodgers spent the past two seasons with the New York Jets, who hoped he’d turn their team around. But an Achilles injury just a few plays into the 2023 opener ruined those plans.
In 2024, Rodgers was graded a C- by PFSN’s QB+ metric. He wasn’t the four-time MVP version of himself, but he still played well enough to be Pittsburgh’s best option at this point.