It’s been weeks since free agency started, yet Aaron Rodgers continues to draw speculation about his future. Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers are giving the four-time NFL MVP all the time he needs to make a decision, but that patience may not be enough to get the result they want.
Rodgers’ silence is reportedly seen as a bad sign within the league, with Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reporting that a high-level NFL executive believes that A-Rod doesn’t want to play in Pittsburgh.
“I had somebody suggest to me yesterday, and I’m just sharing what I heard, what this person’s opinion is,” Florio said on his podcast, via Sports Illustrated. “It’s not a fact; it’s not a report. But it’s somebody who is in the ecosystem and isn’t a low-level employee. This is a high-level person with one of the teams. The opinion is he doesn’t really want to play for the Steelers, and he’s waiting for Minnesota.“
Rodgers doesn’t have many options apart from Pittsburgh
Rodgers, 41, has been the Steelers‘ primary target since he hit the open market this offseason after a two-year stint with the New York Jets. Despite facing little competition, Tomlin and company have found it hard to get the decorated signal-caller on board.
Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on October 20, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Giants pulled out of the race for Rodgers by signing former Steelers QB Russell Wilson, leaving only the Minnesota Vikings as a potential competitor. The Vikings, however, have made it clear that they want to see J.J. McCarthy as starter.
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But since Minnesota left the door open on a move for Rodgers later in the offseason, a return to the NFC North could still be on the cards. This continues to be a waiting game, as nobody really knows where Rodgers will end up in 2025. Even retirement appears to be an option for the former Green Bay Packers star.
Tomlin gives Rodgers his time
However, Tomlin and the Steelers have reasons for optimism. Rodgers visited the team’s facility in March before having a throwing session with wide receiver DK Metcalf, who was traded to Pittsburgh this offseason.
Still, Rodgers isn’t getting too much pressure from the Steelers. Speaking to reporters at the NFL owners meetings this week, Tomlin denied the existence of a deadline for the 41-year-old.
“Not to my knowledge,” Tomlin said, via ESPN. “I don’t know that we’ve approached it from a deadline perspective. Certainly, as I mentioned, you’d like to have settled circumstances, but deadlines don’t often bring that to a head.”
Steelers owner looks optimistic about Rodgers
Steelers owner and president Art Rooney II also addressed the media in Palm Beach this week, looking even more optimistic about landing Rodgers: “We keep getting positive sort of signals about it. So yeah, I’d say we feel pretty good about it at this point.”
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However, Rooney did warn Rodgers to make up his mind sooner rather than later: “Not forever, but a little while longer,” he said when asked whether he was fine with the wait.
