Former New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum has criticized the Pittsburgh Steelers for their handling of their quarterback situation.
On ESPN’s “Get Up,” Tannenbaum stated that the Steelers should have moved on from Rodgers “weeks ago” and that they have lost ground to their AFC North rivals as a result.
Mike Tannenbaum Sends Strong Message Regarding Steelers’ Pursuit of Aaron Rodgers
True to form, Rodgers recently spoke at a public Q&A and stoked the flames of a possible move to Pittsburgh. Rodgers has remained away from the public eye for the majority of the offseason, but has sporadically surfaced to add fuel to the fire regarding his next move.
At the event, hosted by rapper Mike Stud, Rodgers was asked whether he would ever play for the Chicago Bears. Rodgers immediately answered, “No,” before dropping a massive hint that would point to Pittsburgh.
“I believe there’s a team that might play in Chicago this year. On a road trip, I don’t know,” Rodgers said.
The video, predictably, went viral and has put the quarterback front and center of NFL conversations once more. During a recent episode of ESPN’s “Get Up,” host Mike Greenberg asked Tannenbaum, Dan Graziano, and Harry Douglas for their thoughts.
Graziano declared that Rodgers’ words didn’t shed new light on the situation, but pointed to the team’s mandatory minicamp in June as a potential deadline for the potential signing. Tannenbaum was then asked, as a former general manager, whether he would give Rodgers a deadline if he were running the Steelers.
“Yes,” Tannenbaum replied. “It was about six weeks ago, and here’s why. You’re trying to win the AFC North in 2025, and you’re trying to compete against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, and Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. Think about all the reps that those teams have.”
Tannenbaum noted that Rodgers and new Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf are talented, but that they would have a lot of catching up to do in terms of chemistry.
“Sure, they threw one time at UCLA (for an offseason meet-up in March), but they are massively behind this season in terms of reps and experience if they want to meaningfully compete in the AFC North,” Tannenbaum said.
To Tannenbaum’s point, the Steelers start OTAs on Tuesday, yet Rodgers’ free-agency saga continues to drag on with no end in sight.
Should the Steelers Have Looked Elsewhere?
The Steelers have received a lot of criticism for their decision to wait on the four-time league MVP, with several veteran options available at the start of free agency. That included Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, who both played for Pittsburgh in 2024. The Steelers managed to alienate both players, though, by benching Fields after a 4-2 start to the season, and by courting Rodgers over immediately re-signing Wilson.
Sam Darnold was also available after a career-boosting year with the Minnesota Vikings, while Atlanta Falcons backup Kirk Cousins has long been assumed available for a trade. Of all the teams that needed a quarterback this offseason, the Steelers are the only team that has yet to meaningfully address the position.
All that would change, though, with the addition of Rodgers. And while it once looked like a massive uncertainty, the actions of both parties suggest that a deal will get done. Now 41 years old, it should be no surprise that Rodgers didn’t hurry to Pittsburgh for offseason activities. He also openly revealed back in April that he was dealing with some issues in his personal life that he had to prioritize over his next career move.
The Steelers appear to be comfortable with the situation, and with good reason. Rodgers, while complicated, gives the team a far better chance of winning than some of the other options on the table. Of all the quarterbacks that have moved teams this offseason, none boast the resume that Rodgers does.
If Pittsburgh fails to compete with Rodgers in 2025, the organization’s handling of this situation will be blamed, but Rodgers’ upside makes him the best bet for the team in the short term.
