Aaron Rodgers choosing his next destination in the NFL has been looming this entire summer. After an unceremonious and brutal end to his tenure with the New York Jets, there were a plethora of options for the legendary quarterback.
However, in the weeks and months to follow, those options have almost been narrowed down to the Pittsburgh Steelers. But with Derek Carr announcing a premature retirement, a spot in the starting lineup of the New Orleans Saints just became available.
Could Aaron Rodgers Join the New Orleans Saints?
An enormously successful run with the Green Bay Packers that saw a Super Bowl victory and four league MVPs came to an end in an uninspiring final year. However, making his way to the Jets, there was a ton of optimism from the fanbase and the man himself.
Promising a Super Bowl, his two years saw him suit up for 17 games and one snap, with a torn Achilles and a five-win year summarizing his entire tenure. But, with a spot opening up on the Saints, Rodgers was asked about potentially making New Orleans his next spot.
“No. That’s the answer,” Rodgers brutally made it crystal clear. “I’ve played there a couple of times, but no. The answer’s no. I’m too old, I don’t wanna live in Louisiana. Sorry.”
Sounds like Aaron Rodgers is seriously considering signing with the Saints pic.twitter.com/VDIfVWeODD
— Mike Nicastro (@MikedUpSports1) May 24, 2025
For months, the verdict has been clear that the four-time MVP is heading to the Pittsburgh Steelers. While there hasn’t been a confirmation, all signs point towards it, with sportswriter and biographer Ian O’Connor going so far as to confirm that the two sides have a verbal agreement.
That would certainly explain the Steelers’ reluctance to add any true quarterbacks to their squad. With Shedeur Sanders slipping to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the team had ample opportunities to bring him on board.
However, they chose to pass on him, instead adding Will Howard in the sixth round as a potential backup QB, at least for the time being.
Last year, Rodgers ranked 21st on PFSN’s QB+ metric with a career-low in passer rating at 90.5. The Jets finished with just five wins and lost their head coach as well as a valuable fourth-round pick in exchange for a one-year rental in Davante Adams.
For the Saints, though, the situation has turned even more bleak. A fractured hand during the season put Carr out for the year. However, a complication in his shoulder during the offseason revealed significant damage to his rotator cuff alongside a labral tear, forcing him into retirement.
Now, New Orleans is functioning with a quarterback room featuring the likes of Jake Haener, Spencer Rattler, Hunter Dekkers, and Tyler Shough. None of those names inspires a ton of confidence, potentially marking the beginning of a full-fledged rebuild in Louisiana.
