As the dust settles on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ long, drawn-out pursuit of Aaron Rodgers, conversation has turned to what the team can achieve with the veteran. During a recent appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” ESPN’s Peter Schrager recapped the team’s agonizing search for a starting quarterback.
The analyst pointed out multiple quarterbacks who were linked to the Steelers, why things didn’t work out, and why they eventually landed on Rodgers.
What Prevented the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Moves for Justin Fields, Matthew Stafford?
Schrager appeared on the show on June 17 to discuss several offseason stories from around the NFL. Among those stories was the Steelers’ move for Rodgers, with Schrager saying the team’s actions speak volumes.
“Everyone’s like, ‘Well, they really wanted [Justin] Fields.’ If they really wanted Fields, they would have paid Fields big money, okay? That was my take on that whole thing,” he said.
“‘They really wanted [Matt] Stafford,’ well, Stafford wasn’t going. The Rams wanted to retain Stafford, they just had to figure that out. Sean [McVay] and Stafford had multiple meetings to work their stuff out, and that got done.”
Schrager then praised the value the Steelers got with Rodgers and said the move was a clear signal of intent from the team.
“That said, Aaron Rodgers for $10 million a year, with incentives that can get him to 20. It’s a great value, and you’re rolling the dice and saying, ‘We’re sick of being mediocre, this guy might take us over the top.'”
“If the Steelers really wanted Justin Fields they would’ve paid him big money..
They didn’t offer him what the Jets offered him..
The Aaron Rodgers deal is great value” @PSchrags #PMSLive https://t.co/aRCKEROBrv pic.twitter.com/LCEiZH4RXk— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 17, 2025
The Steelers haven’t recorded a losing season since 2003, yet have failed to win a playoff game since their 2016 campaign. That cycle of being good, but not great, has tested the fan base’s patience.
Rodgers is a big short-term swing, and Pittsburgh has managed to take it at a respectable financial cost, making him a no-brainer for a competitive team in need of a starter.
Aaron Rodgers Was Always the Steelers’ Best Bet for a Super Bowl
The fact that the Steelers took so long to land a quarterback, despite numerous options being available at the start of the offseason, frustrated fans. But for a team with short-term Super Bowl hopes, Rodgers was the clear leader of the pack.
Sam Darnold had a great 2024 season, but was still released by the Minnesota Vikings in favor of an unproven prospect. Fields and Russell Wilson were both on the Steelers last year, and the team chose to move on from both. Geno Smith was traded for a third-round pick, but it would have cost more than that for Pittsburgh because of draft position and Pete Carroll coaching the Las Vegas Raiders.
Rodgers is a reliable and experienced quarterback who excels in the red zone and knows how to win in the playoffs. The Steelers can win any game with their defense, and they needed a dependable game manager to keep the offense on track. They now have that, and they’re very much Super Bowl contenders in 2025.
DieHard Steeler fan…you made a B I G mistake, Mike. B I G L E Y! We’ll be lucky to keep our current .500+ stats. Although painful, I’m with you all-the-way.