The Steelers have shown Aaron Rodgers’ famous girlfriends that patience can pay off—if you wait long enough, he might just commit.
Rodgers has told the Steelers, who are set to head to Pittsburgh on Friday, that he will sign a free agent contract on Tuesday, just in time to join the mandatory minicamp.
Details of the deal haven’t been made public yet.
The 41-year-old quarterback, likely to be a Hall of Famer, has previously dated high-profile stars like Olivia Munn, Shailene Woodley, and Danica Patrick. And he really kept the Steelers guessing, delaying his decision well past the start of free agency and the NFL draft.
If Rodgers chooses to retire and start anew with a new mystery girlfriend—a possibility he’s said he’s seriously mulling over—the Steelers would have had to choose between Mason Rudolph, a journeyman, or Will Howard, a rookie sixth-round pick.
But instead, the opening week of the NFL schedule is looking exciting as Rodgers prepares to face the Jets at MetLife Stadium on September 7 at 1 p.m.
Justin Fields, who started for the Steelers last season during a six-game stint, prioritized signing Giants-bound Russell Wilson before Rodgers entered the conversation.
Rodgers was meant to be the Jets’ hero when he came from the Packers in 2023, yet he ended the last season with a disappointing 5-12 record after dealing with an Achilles injury.
The Jets’ General Manager, Darren Moogie, along with head coach Aaron Glenn, parted ways with Rodgers back in February, and it seems there wasn’t much communication around it.
Reflecting on that moment, Rodgers recounted on the Pat McCaffrey Show that Glenn abruptly asked if he still wanted to play football, to which he replied affirmatively. “We’re going in a different direction at quarterback,” Glenn said, leaving Rodgers rather taken aback.
Now, Rodgers is set to be the Steelers’ starting quarterback, a significant shift as they’ve struggled to find a suitable replacement since franchise legend Ben Roethlisberger retired in 2021.
The list of quarterbacks includes Mitch Trubisky in 2022, Kenny Pickett in 2023, Fields in 2024, and now Rodgers.
Though last season wasn’t his best—particularly in tight matchups—Rodgers still posted 3,897 yards, with 28 touchdowns against 11 interceptions.
The combination of Rodgers and head coach Mike Tomlin, who hasn’t had a losing season in 18 years, could make the Steelers a formidable presence in the AFC.
Tomlin’s impressive track record was appealing to Rodgers, as he seeks a closing chapter that aligns better with his storied career. Interestingly, Rodgers’ only Super Bowl experience came against Tomlin and the Steelers back in 2010.
The Steelers’ schedule has set the stage for a Revenge Tour for Rodgers, which certainly isn’t limited to just week one. He will also compete against the Vikings, alongside JJ McCarthy.
The Giants had a brief conversation with Rodgers in March about a potential collaboration, but decided to pursue Wilson long before Rodgers was ready to engage, especially amidst personal challenges.
About 76 days after his visit to the Pittsburgh facility, and more than two months since he and Steelers receiver DK Metcalf got together, some team leaders began expressing concerns about not familiarizing themselves with the playbook during the offseason.
Nevertheless, the Steelers held on to their confidence that Rodgers would eventually join them.
