Aaron Rodgers has finally shifted gears by joining the Pittsburgh Steelers during free agency.
The seasoned quarterback, now 41, acknowledged the significance of Mike Tomlin in his decision on Tuesday, just days after signing a one-year, $13.65 million deal with Pittsburgh.
“It starts with Mike Tomlin,” Rodgers shared with reporters post-practice. “I’ve admired him for years. There are several legendary teams in the NFL, and I played for one of them for 18 seasons. This is definitely one of those.”
Rodgers had hinted earlier about some personal matters affecting him over the offseason. He confirmed that Pittsburgh had been accommodating during this time.
“I had quite a lot going on personally,” he remarked. “Things got better to the point where I felt comfortable being here. I had a deep conversation with Mike and [GM] Omar [Khan].”
There had been speculation that the former Jets quarterback might land elsewhere, possibly with the Vikings, but instead, they opted to give JJ McCarthy a chance under center.
Jeremy Fowler from ESPN reported that while the Vikings were eyeing Rodgers, they believed they had a three-year window to contend and could benefit from a rookie contract at quarterback.
According to Adam Schefter, Rodgers wasn’t initially the Steelers’ top choice. They had pursued a deal with Matthew Stafford, who subsequently re-signed with Justin Fields, leading the Steelers to settle on Rodgers as an alternative.
Despite never having played for the Steelers before, Rodgers noted he has had several connections to the city throughout his career.
“Pittsburgh has been in my football journey since the beginning, playing 13 years with Mike McCarthy. Tom Clements will always be part of my story,” he expressed.
It’s been an eventful offseason for Rodgers. Although he was let go by the Jets, he also found happiness in his personal life, sharing that he’s been married for several months.
Now, after a year that didn’t meet his usual expectations (with a 90.5 quarterback rating) and further recovery from his Achilles injuries, he’s eager to make a mark on the field.
