Aaron Rodgers recently ended his offseason saga by signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 21-year veteran arrived for the team’s mandatory minicamp and was excited to join his teammates.
Rodgers recently opened up about his decision to sign with Pittsburgh, and which player influenced his decision the most.
Aaron Rodgers Credits DK Metcalf As ‘Big Reason’ He Signed With Steelers
Rodgers ended his months-long free agency saga by signing a one-year, $13.65 million deal with the Steelers that includes a $14.15 million cap hit. He’s joining his third NFL team after two disastrous years with the New York Jets, where Rodgers tore his Achilles in 2023, then finished 5-12 last season.
He proved he still has something left in the tank late in 2024, but his numbers were down overall, throwing for just 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. While Rodgers debated the Steelers’ offer to play a 21st season, Pittsburgh upgraded its offense by trading for DK Metcalf.
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Rodgers had a private throwing session with Metcalf earlier this offseason, which sparked rumors that he’d sign with Pittsburgh. The signal-caller recently appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” and discussed how influential Metcalf was in his decision to join the Steelers.
“DK is a lead-by-example guy,” Rodgers said. “He’s a big reason I’m in Pittsburgh as well. Conversations that we had, and just the kind of person that he is. At the start of the year, I didn’t really know DK at all.
“He’s like, ‘I work out at six a.m. every day.’ I’m like, okay, this guy has discipline, this guy has a drive. I said, How about eight o’clock because I’m gonna have to drive from Malibu to UCLA? He said, ‘Yeah, that’s fine.’ He’s not just a specimen, but he’s a really solid human being.
“He’s not just a specimen, but he’s a really solid human being. He is a solid dude, and he leads by example. The way he practices. The room goes how the top dog goes, and when DK catches the ball and finishes 60 yards to the endzone, it makes everyone else want to do the same thing.”
“DK Metcalf is a lead by example guy..
He’s a big reason why I’m in Pittsburgh as well” @AaronRodgers12 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/ATV7GxzHsk
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 24, 2025
Pittsburgh agreed to give a 2025 second-round pick and a late-round pick swap to the Seattle Seahawks for Metcalf before the start of the new league year. Pittsburgh signed Metcalf to a four-year, $132 million extension upon his arrival, which will keep the receiver under contract through 2029.
Rodgers and Metcalf Headline Revamped Steelers Offense
The Steelers continued their run of lackluster offensive play last season with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields at the helm. Both quarterbacks moved on to other teams in free agency, with Wilson signing with the New York Giants and Fields joining the New York Jets. Mason Rudolph was the projected starter until Rodgers signed.
The Steelers also added veteran receiver Robert Woods to the room that already included Calvin Austin III and second-year wideout Roman Wilson. The team traded George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys earlier this offseason, and veteran Najee Harris went to the Los Angeles Chargers. Jaylen Warren is expected to be the featured back, and rookie Kaleb Johnson will have an opportunity to earn snaps.
Rodgers will hopefully gel with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith quickly. With so many new parts, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Steelers’ offense gets off to a slow start. The team is banking on the veteran quarterback’s experience and leadership to help integrate all the new pieces and return Pittsburgh to playoff contention.
The four-time NFL MVP brings extensive postseason experience to a Steelers team that hasn’t won a playoff game since 2016. At 41 years old, Rodgers is looking to prove he still has what it takes to lead a championship-caliber team.