When Mike Tomlin 'knew' Steelers could have Aaron Rodgers for 2025 season

Leading up to the opening night of the 2025 NFL Draft, numerous stories suggested the Pittsburgh Steelers could grab a quarterback in the first round of the player-selection process as rumors linked Pittsburgh with future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers.

Per Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot, Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin admitted during the latest edition of "The Pivot" podcast that he "knew something" about Rodgers' intentions for the 2025 season before Pittsburgh selected Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon over quarterbacks Jaxson Dart and Shedeur Sanders with the draft's 21st overall pick.

Questions about Rodgers' dedication to the Steelers hovered over the club throughout the spring as the 41-year-old remained an unsigned free agent. Thus, some criticized the Steelers for not addressing their quarterback situation during the draft until they grabbed developmental prospect Will Howard in the sixth round. 

Pittsburgh passed on taking Sanders on multiple occasions before the Cleveland Browns traded up to select him in the fifth round. That said, it became clear after Rodgers signed a team-friendly contract to join the Steelers in June that he had stayed in touch with Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith during the offseason. 

"I just wanted to know why, why does the fire still burn? What is his agenda? Those are some of the conversations that we had in the spring," Tomlin told "The Pivot" about chats he had with Rodgers before June. "And I just got real comfortable with his why. All he wants to do is win. All he wants to do is have fun within the game. He wanted to be a component of the process of development for young players."

Steelers players have seemingly warmly welcomed Rodgers since the club's three-day mandatory minicamp in June, and he has taken Howard under his wing. Rodgers has also impressed onlookers with his arm talent during summer workouts. 

"Everything that we talked about through our conversations in the spring, I'm watching him live out right now in this training camp setting," Tomlin added about Rodgers. "I believed him when he said it, but it's fun to watch it play out. I think that's why I'm excited. I think that's why I was comfortable."

Rodgers wants to end his career "the right way" as a Pittsburgh player after he suffered a torn Achilles with the New York Jets in September 2023 and then won just five of 17 starts with the Jets last season. He will have an opportunity to send a message to the regime that discarded him earlier this year when the Steelers open the upcoming campaign with a matchup at the Jets on Sept. 7.