Aaron Rodgers has been quietly building a relationship with the Steelers for some time now.
The dynamics of his offseason interactions with the Pittsburgh front office were highlighted in a recent sports piece. NFL insider Albert Breer noted that the Steelers weren’t concerned that Rodgers, 41, would back out before he finalized a one-year deal worth $13.65 million.
“While there weren’t regular check-ins, Rodgers would occasionally reach out to Tomlin and Smith,” Breer explained, suggesting this eased any worries the Steelers might have had about him returning.
After a couple of lackluster seasons with the Jets, Rodgers became a target for the Steelers during the offseason.
Breer mentioned that the Steelers initially considered several MVP candidates after experiencing a significant season-ending setback.
They had hoped to solidify their roster, but lost their chance when the former Bears first-round pick signed a two-year, $40 million deal with the Jets once free agency opened.
Despite a visit to the Steelers’ facility in March, Rodgers remained available as the quarterback situation in the league continued to evolve.
As the 2025 NFL Draft approached weeks later, speculation arose about whether Pittsburgh would pursue an early option like Lache Dure Sanders or wait for Rodgers.
In May, Team President Art Rooney II affirmed that they were willing to be patient with Rodgers.
The Steelers confirmed the signing on Instagram, sharing a photo of Rodgers putting pen to paper.
He inked the deal just before the Steelers reported for mandatory minicamp, which kicks off on Tuesday.
Last season, Rodgers played in 17 games for the Jets, throwing 28 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. In a twist, he’ll face his former team in the season opener when the Steelers head to MetLife Stadium.
