Aaron Rodgers has been mysterious this offseason, but all signs are pointing towards a return for the 2025 NFL season. According to reports, the 41-year-old has given Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers a big reason to believe he’ll accept their offer.
However, Rodgers has recently been advised to delay the announcement a bit further. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk believes that A-Rod should wait to sign with the Steelers until the NFL releases the 2025 schedule.
Florio notes that, if the league knows that Rodgers will officially play in Pittsburgh, Tomlin and company will probably get more prime-time games―something that could result in less days of rest between games.
“It’s one thing to assume he’ll be a Steeler. It’s another to know,” Florio wrote. “And if the league knows Rodgers will be a Steeler, the Steelers could have their routine disrupted by multiple Sunday-to-Thursday turnarounds and night games and other kickoff times that deviate from the preferred rhythm of Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET.“
Aaron Rodgers looks on before the regular season game between the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 20, 2024 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
The 2025 NFL schedule will be released on May 14. What Florio suggests is that, after taking all the time he needed to make a decision, Rodgers waits a little longer to sign with Pittsburgh. The league could still build the schedule expecting Rodgers to be a Steeler. But as Florio noted, it wouldn’t be the same if they knew it for sure.
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NFL News: Mike Tomlin and Steelers had reportedly made their final decision between Aaron Rodgers and Shedeur Sanders before 2025 Draft
The Steelers’ opponents in the 2025 NFL season
Even though Rodgers would make the Steelers an even more attractive team to watch, Tomlin and company already face a challenging schedule based on their opponents for the 2025 NFL season.
Pittsburgh is set to host the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, and Seattle Seahawks this year. One of those games, however, will take place in Ireland as part of the NFL international games.
The Steelers will also face tough matchups when they hit the road. Apart from visiting the division rivals, the team will play the Bears in Chicago, the Lions in Detroit, the Chargers in LA, the Patriots in Foxborough, and the Jets in NY.
Steelers add QBs before Rodgers’ decision
However, it remains uncertain whether Rodgers will actually play in Pittsburgh. While this possibility gained traction after the 2025 NFL Draft, the veteran QB said on the “Pat McAfee Show” not long ago that he still needed to think it through.
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In the meantime, the team has been preparing for alternative scenarios. Apart from bringing back Mason Rudolph and drafting Will Howard, Tomlin and the Steelers will evaluate Pittsburgh native Seth Morgan during the rookie minicamp. Only time will tell who’s starting in Week 1.
