Reporter shares less optimistic Aaron Rodgers to Steelers take amid conflicting reports

As recently as Monday, Pittsburgh Steelers insider Mike DeFabo of The Athletic noted that the Steelers remained "optimistic about Aaron Rodgers’ eventually signing with them" at some point before it'd be too late to name him their 2025 Week 1 starter. 

However, Steelers reporter Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette offered somewhat of a different take when he said, while responding to a question for a Tuesday chat session, that he felt there's only a "60%" chance Rodgers will put pen to paper on a deal with the Steelers. 

Steelers insider Mark Kaboly of "The Pat McAfee Show" and Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio previously suggested the biggest reason Rodgers remained unsigned as of the second Tuesday of May was that the 41-year-old simply doesn't want to participate in the ongoing portions of the offseason program. On Tuesday, Fittipaldo wrote that he thinks "the personal issues [Rodgers is] working through are the main reason for the delay."

During an April 17 appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," Rodgers said he was staying "open to anything and attached to nothing" regarding his future, as his focus had "been and will continue to be on [his] personal life." For an article published on April 30, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated mentioned that his "feeling is some of the narratives out there" about Rodgers not yet signing with the Steelers "wouldn’t have been spun the same way" had information about the unknown personal issue surfaced earlier in the offseason. 

Fittipaldo's update could understandably raise some eyebrows, as the Steelers have spent the offseason acting like a club that already had at least a handshake agreement with a proven QB1. Longtime backup Mason Rudolph and 2022 seventh-round draft pick Skylar Thompson currently sit above 2025 sixth-round choice Will Howard on Pittsburgh's depth chart. 

Numerous stories have linked the Steelers with Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, but he has a no-trade clause attached to his contract and could reject a move to a different team. It's unknown how he'd feel about being Pittsburgh's fallback option in the event that Rodgers either retires or simply passes on joining the Steelers. 

During the most recent edition of the "Scoop City" podcast, NFL insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic shared that "the latest conversations" she's had with individuals associated with the Steelers caused her to believe the team feels "good" about having Rodgers as its starter come September. 

"60%" and "good" aren't exactly guarantees as it pertains to what was a playoff team this past January acquiring a needed improvement at the sport's most important position ahead of training camp.