Aaron Rodgers: Pittsburgh Steeler?

According to a report from Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Steelers are trying to ink a deal with the four-time MVP. The two sides have not come to an agreement, but this is the strongest report to this point about where Rodgers may end up playing in 2025.

Rodgers is a free agent for the first time in his career after two lackluster seasons with the New York Jets, one of which was shortened dramatically by a ruptured Achilles tendon. Now heading into his age 42 season, Rodgers may get one last shot to show he can get it done.

If he does end up landing in Pittsburgh, he’ll have at least a little help to do just that. On Sunday, the Steelers traded for two-time Pro Bowl receiver D.K. Metcalf, bringing him to Pittsburgh from Seattle. Along with fellow mercurial-but-productive wide receiver George Pickens, Rodgers would at least have plenty of options to work with if he tries to revive the later stages of his career with the Steelers.

The biggest question here is whether those pieces all fit together with the Steelers’ notoriously conservative offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Though a disciple of the Shanahan/McVay/LaFleur offensive scheme tree, Smith is notoriously conservative and run heavy. In a 35-17 loss in 2022, Smith called just 13 passing plays despite the massive deficit, preferring to stick with his run game instead.

With Russell Wilson and Justin Fields sharing quarterback duties last year in Pittsburgh, things were much the same. The Steelers ended the season ranked 29th in the NFL in passing attempts while piling up the fourth-most rushing attempts.

But you’re not signing Aaron Rodgers to act as a glorified handoff machine. You’re not trading for D.K. Metcalf to have him block on the perimeter. Something will have to change in Pittsburgh for these moves to come together in any kind of a cohesive picture. What that picture looks like now is anybody’s guess, but if Rodgers does sign with the Steelers, someone’s going to have to change their approach — and based on what we know, it’s hard to believe that person will be Aaron Rodgers.

One other notable item is that the Green Bay Packers are scheduled to play the Steelers in 2025, with rumors swirling about the two teams playing in Ireland. Signing in Pittsburgh would give Rodgers his first opportunity to play against the team that drafted and developed him and for whom he won his four MVP awards and a Super Bowl ring.