With one domino down for the Pittsburgh Steelers following the trade for star wide receiver DK Metcalf, the attention shifts back to the quarterback position, where things continue to heat up for the Black and Gold.
And one option that was largely thought of as very unlikely is starting to gain steam.
That would be Aaron Rodgers. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Rodgers has “emerged” as an option for the Steelers, and the two sides are expected to talk with the idea of Rodgers playing for Mike Tomlin “in play.”
Schefter also reports that QB Justin Fields has been talking with the Steelers, but he needs to understand more about the situation with the New York Jets — a team that has been heavily connected to the young quarterback all offseason — though an offer can’t come until this afternoon.
With Fields waiting, veteran QBs like Rodgers and Russell Wilson are waiting in the wings in Pittsburgh.
Rodgers has been a name connected to the Steelers throughout the offseason. He’s a veteran quarterback who is a big name and has a history with Mike Tomlin, albeit a small one due to some interactions on the field during matchups, with the two having mutual respect for each other.
Following his tweet, Schefter appeared on ESPN Radio’s Unsportsmanlike and further explained the possibility of Rodgers in Pittsburgh.
Yes, Rodgers remains a big name at the quarterback position. His play hasn’t matched the power his name carries, especially last year, but he’s still that star-power guy.
He’s fallen off on the field, though, and even worse, he’s become more of a distraction off the field. He’s always in the media pushing back on narratives and questioned the support the Jets get from ownership last year. Rodgers was at the center of multiple Jets storylines last season, including the firing of head coach Robert Saleh and the trade for Davante Adams, not to mention beefing with young wide receiver Garrett Wilson.
That doesn’t seem like a guy, in theory the Steelers would sign up for at quarterback. But with how desperate the Steelers are to find an answer at the position, Rodgers could certainly be in play.
During the 2024 season, Rodgers played in all 17 games for the Jets, completing 63% of his passes for 3,897 yards with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He was also sacked 40 times and played through an ankle injury that he suffered during the Jets’ Week 5 game in London.
In Week 7 against the Steelers at Acrisure Stadium, Rodgers completed 24-of-39 passes for 276 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, which were both pulled down by then-rookie defensive back Beanie Bishop Jr. Rodgers was also sacked one time in the Jets’ 37-15 loss to the Steelers.
Last December as it became clear his time in New York was going to come to an end, Rodgers spoke highly of Tomlin during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.
“There’s only one Mike Tomlin,” Rodgers told the show. “I would say that first and foremost, you gotta give Mike credit. He’s got a special sauce to think about the way that he coaches. I’m just saying this from afar. I haven’t been around him, but I’ve heard, talked to a lot of guys that played for him.”
