Vikings' J.J. McCarthy decision pushes Aaron Rodgers one step closer to retirement

That leaves two teams that have shown an interest in Rodgers: the Steelers and the Giants.

Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward is already tired of the Rodgers saga, saying on his "Not Just Football" podcast, "Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don't. It's that simple." (h/t ESPN)

Neither the Steelers nor Giants are an Aaron Rodgers away from contending for a Super Bowl. At this juncture, what's the point in starting a 41-year-old quarterback if the team's ceiling is the wild-card round (Steelers) or six wins (Giants)? 

The Vikings are the one Super Bowl-caliber team that could have been an option. That they rebuffed Rodgers should speak volumes about how the mercurial veteran is viewed around the league.

Any team signing Rodgers can only expect to have him for one season. While he might play longer, it would be unwise to assume that it's a certainty Rodgers will want to suit up in an NFL uniform beyond 2025.

Since his final seasons in Green Bay, he's done the "will he or won't he" dance regarding retirement, and that's a circus few teams, particularly those with low ceilings, should want to invite into their organization.

Rodgers has also had diminishing on-field returns, failing to make the playoffs in his past two full seasons as a starting quarterback. Per NFL Pro data, he had the third-worst completion percentage over expected (CPOE) among 36 qualifying quarterbacks in 2024, ahead of Cooper Rush and Anthony Richardson. 

Considering how desperate the Steelers and Giants are for a quarterback, Rodgers will likely remain a candidate for a 2025 starting gig until those positions are filled ... as long as he doesn't pick up what Earth is telling him first.