As Pat McAfee’s highly anticipated “Big Night AHT” show in Pittsburgh nears, speculation among NFL fans has reached a fever pitch. A viral rumor suggested that Aaron Rodgers might appear at the event to announce a free agency move, possibly to the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, McAfee has now directly addressed and dismissed the buzz, providing clarity to fans hoping for a blockbuster moment.
Pat McAfee Shuts Down Aaron Rodgers-Steelers Speculation Ahead of Big Night AHT
During a guest appearance on “Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger,” McAfee was clear in that Rodgers would not be showing up to announce anything.
“Aaron Rodgers is not on the docket,” McAfee said. “I would like everybody to know that.”
McAfee noted that while the show promises real and surprising moments, Rodgers is not involved. He admitted he hasn’t spoken with the quarterback for “weeks, months at this point,” indicating there has been no planning or coordination for an appearance.
McAfee even joked that Rodgers could be “watching film” or “underneath the pyramids with a shovel,” referencing the quarterback’s known interest in retreats and unconventional training habits. The key takeaway is that Rodgers’ current whereabouts and plans are unknown — even to McAfee.
The rumor had legs due to Rodgers’ close relationship with McAfee and co-host A.J. Hawk, the latter being a former teammate of his with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers is also known for making headlines during his regular Tuesday appearances on “The Pat McAfee Show” during the NFL season.
Adding fuel to the fire was the Steelers’ ongoing quarterback situation. With only Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson under contract, as well as the front office deeply engaged in scouting QB prospects for the NFL Draft, Rodgers has been viewed as a possible short-term solution for Pittsburgh.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport recently commented that he would be “very surprised” if Rodgers waited until after the draft to announce his future plans. He also hinted that if Rodgers returns to play, the Steelers seem like the most logical destination.
Even Steelers president Art Rooney acknowledged that the organization is willing to wait “a little while longer” for Rodgers to make his decision. Yet, despite all this, McAfee’s latest comments shut down the idea that any such decision will be revealed on his stage.
For now, fans can expect surprises at “Big Night AHT” — just not the one involving Rodgers donning black and gold. The show will start Thursday, April 10, at 8 p.m. ET and can be seen on McAfee’s YouTube, TikTok, and X feeds.
I wish Aron Rodgers would come back to earth and realize that the NFL can get along just fine without him. I don’t see all these teams falling over each other to sign him. There’s some good talent coming out of the draft, that along with all the other QBs looking for a chance to be that quarterback that takes a team to the playoffs and maybe the Superbowl. Rodgers needs to except he’s getting close to retirement and he’s not the guy he was yrs ago.