Aaron Rodgers Makes Personal Admission About Joining Steelers

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Orlando Silva | Last updated Jun 12, 2025 11:29 AM ET

After a poor 2024 season with the New York Jets (a 5-12 record and the third position in the AFC East division), Aaron Rodgers became a free agent. The Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants and New Orleans Saints were mentioned as potential landing spots for the four-time NFL MVP until they ruled themselves out of the race, leaving the door open for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Rodgers joined the team on Friday after over 70 days since his March visit. In his return from the Achilles injury that kept him sidelined the entire 2023 season, he had 3,897 passing yards on 368 completions, finding the end zone 28 times across 17 games.

The Steelers had a positive 2024 campaign, posting a 10-7 record with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields as starting quarterbacks. However, the season ended on a five-game losing streak, including a wild-card round defeat against the Baltimore Ravens.

For a second consecutive season, they will go with a seasoned veteran to lead them to the promised land in an AFC that's been dominated by the Kansas City Chiefs in the past three years.

Rodgers spent his first week as a member of the Steelers, acclimating to the team, letting reporters know he got married a couple of months ago, but also revealing he only had two options coming into 2025.

Steelers reporter Brooke Pryor shared on Thursday that the one-time Super Bowl champion put it this way: it was either playing for Pittsburgh or calling it a career.

"The rapport that fell in between me and Mike made it to where, as I was going through my personal stuff, there wasn't any other option for me," Rodgers said. "It was here or not play."

He remained in touch with general manager Omar Khan, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and head coach Mike Tomlin while he weighed his options and came to a decision. That said, he wanted to be in the best place, mentally speaking, to join the six-time Super Bowl winners.

"I didn't want to shortchange the guys and sign but be elsewhere mentally or physically," Rodgers said. "Until I could be here and be all-in, I needed to take care of my business."

This is another gamble for the Steelers, who haven't found consistency at the quarterback position since Ben Roethlisberger retired in 2022. Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, Mitch Trubisky, Wilson and Fields tried, but nobody could take this team to another championship.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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