It’s no secret that the NFL thrives on drama when it comes to scheduling, but altering plans for a retired quarterback is quite an astonishing move. This year, the league had to carefully consider how Aaron Rodgers’ presence would impact the lineup.
NFL scheduling executive Mike North discussed with the Associated Press the decision to give the Pittsburgh Steelers four primetime games in 2025. He mentioned that if Rodgers were to join the team, it could lead to even more changes.
“We can’t claim to know any more than anyone else. The schedule was designed for Coach Tomlin and his team. If Aaron decides to come back, it certainly would add some excitement to the Steelers’ games,” he said.
North pointed out that if Rodgers were currently on the Steelers’ roster, their matchup against the Jets in Week 1 would likely have been a primetime game instead of a 1 PM slot. Is the Steelers vs. Jets matchup really that compelling? Probably not, but the league would definitely have enjoyed the storyline of Rodgers facing New York again.
As for Rodgers himself, he has been toying with the idea of joining a new team for months, often hinting at it during appearances on shows like the Pat McAfee Show. He claims he doesn’t want to be the center of attention, which seems a bit contradictory given the ongoing speculation. For the Steelers, this creates a somewhat slow situation in terms of quarterback decisions this season. It looks like they’re trying to figure out what Rodgers might choose while also building a depth chart.
Right now, their options are limited to Mason Rudolph, Wil Howard, and Skyler Thompson as quarterbacks on their roster, especially after both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson moved through free agency. This makes Rodgers a coveted target, but his next move remains a mystery.
