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'Best for My Soul;' Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers Reveals Real Reason for Signing

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics | By Robin M Adams | Last updated Jun 11, 2025 9:06 AM ET

The Pittsburgh Steelers started mandatory minicamp this week with a different quarterback on their depth chart than they did earlier during voluntary OTA’s. That quarterback, of course, is four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, who signed with the team over the weekend.

As was reported earlier, Rodgers was not Pittsburgh’s first choice to be their starting quarterback in 2025. They had originally tried to re-sign Justin Fields, and when that did not work they attempted to acquire Los Angeles Rams star Matthew Stafford.

Obviously, neither options came to fruition. As a result, the Steelers were forced to wait months for Rodgers to make a decision on whether or not he wanted to play at all in 2025. And, of course, he did eventually decide that he wanted to.

Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers Reveals Why He Signed with Them

Tuesday was the first day that Rodgers met with the media as a member of the Steelers organization. During his session, he revealed that he is, indeed, married and that he has been for a couple of months.

But he also talked about why, exactly, he decided to sign with Pittsburgh (other than the fact that they were the only NFL team interested in him).

“A big attraction was Mike Tomlin,” Rodgers said according to Ian Rapoport. “I’ve gone against him over the years. The way that the conversations went between him and I, whenever it was in March or April and the last Sunday when I called him was some of the coolest conversations I had in the game. So, he’s a big reason of why I’m here and I’m excited to play for him.”

Aaron Rodgers Said He Does Not “Need” to Play

The 2025 season with be the 21st of Rodgers’ Hall of Fame-worthy career. He will turn 42 in December and has already accomplished everything there is to accomplish in the league.

So why continue playing?

“I don’t need it. For my ego, I don’t need it to keep playing,” Rodgers stated. “A lot of decisions that I’ve made over my career and life from strictly the ego — even if they turn out well — are always unfulfilling. But the decisions made from the soul are usually pretty fulfilling. So this was a decision that was best for my soul. I felt like being here with Coach T. and the guys they got here and the opportunity here was best for me. I’m excited to be here.”

Many believed that being released by the New York Jets would have been a blow to the quarterback’s ego and that he did not want to end his career by being told he was not wanted.

According to him, though, that is not the case.

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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