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The Pittsburgh Steelers are without a starting quarterback, but it seems almost inevitable that the team will eventually sign veteran Aaron Rodgers. Where Rodgers lands is a decision that is solely in the quarterback's own hands, and he has made it clear that he's comfortable taking his sweet time. All the while, the Steelers have waited patiently for Rodgers, seemingly confident enough that the quarterback will land with them that they can afford to wait. As Rodgers' options for a team have grown limited, it has become increasingly likely that he will sign with Pittsburgh. However, according to Mike Florio, Rodgers may not be as intent on signing with the Steelers as they may have hoped.
On Wednesday, Florio said on his podcast, "PFT Live with Mike Florio Podcast," that Rodgers doesn't want to become a Steeler and is holding out for another team. The information comes from someone that Florio alleges is a high-up individual in the NFL.
"I had somebody suggest to me yesterday, and I'm just sharing what I heard, what this person's opinion is. It's not a fact. It's not a report. But it's someone who is in the ecosystem and isn't a low-level employee. This is a high-level person with one of the teams. The opinion is he (Rodgers) doesn't really want to play for the Steelers, and he's waiting for Minnesota."
It's already been documented that Rodgers' first choice for a new team is the Minnesota Vikings. Rodgers was considered a long shot for the Vikings, as they will likely opt to start J.J. McCarthy. However, due to the Vikings being unable to 100% rule out Rodgers, the veteran may be holding out hope.
Signing Rodgers would likely mean the Vikings keeping McCarthy on the bench. It would be an unlikely move by Minnesota, as their young quarterback was already out for the last season due to an injury. The Vikings will be looking to give McCarthy more playing time, and making him play backup to Rodgers isn't the way to do that.
Steelers signing Rodgers may be the quarterback's only choice besides retirement
It would be a bad look for the Steelers if the quarterback they have been pursuing for so long ends up not wanting to play in Pittsburgh. On the other hand, Rodgers may be denying the inevitable. Rodgers is 41 years old and will be 42 by the end of next season. The quarterback is well past his prime and isn't the asset he once was. Although the Vikings may not be able to 100% rule out signing Rodgers, there could still technically be a 1% chance they do sign him, and that slim chance may be the thing Rodgers is holding out for.
However, Rodgers needs better odds than that, and if the quarterback wants any chance of ending his career on a high note, he may need to bite the bullet and sign with the Steelers. Besides the Steelers, Rodgers' most likely option is to retire. It's arguably the least attractive option for the quarterback. Rodgers had a lackluster last two years with the New York Jets. The Steelers give Rodgers the best option to finish his NFL tenure with a winning record.
What could be keeping Rodgers from signing with Pittsburgh? Some think that the Steelers and Rodgers already have a secret deal worked out. Rodgers has also hinted at it himself when he worked out with one of the Steelers' newest wide receivers, DK Metcalf.
At the end of the day, it is nearly impossible to predict what choice Rodgers will make. Although with his options becoming more limited, likely now only between Pittsburgh and retirement, his choice should be getting easier.
More must-reads:
- Art Rooney II addresses how much longer Steelers are willing to wait for Aaron Rodgers' decision
- Report expands on 'tension' between Garrett Wilson, Jets before offseason moves
- The 'Single-season passing leaders for each NFL franchise' quiz
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Steelers' Jalen Ramsey Makes Revealing Confession About Playing In Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Steelers made a bunch of aggressive moves in the 2025 offseason. One of those moves was General Manager Omar Khan’s decision to trade away former All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to acquire tight end Jonnu Smith and cornerback Jalen Ramsey from the Miami Dolphins. The Steelers clearly viewed Ramsey as a cornerstone piece to elevate their defense to an elite level in 2025. As training camp has come and gone, Ramsey has quickly reminded those in Latrobe, PA, just how dominant he can still be. Following a practice session, Ramsey sat down with Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor, and Channing Crowder for an episode of The Pivot podcast to share his early impressions of life in the Steel City. During the conversation, Ramsey spoke about the culture he has experienced since joining the Steelers, expressing admiration for the way the organization operates. He pointed to the smooth handling of TJ Watt’s contract negotiations as an example of how the Steelers take care of their own. "Probably so," Ramsey said on The Pivot podcast when asked if his career would have been different if the Steelers would have drafted him. "Yeah, 100 percent... If I would've started my career here, it probably would've been different. My focus may have been a little bit different at times. I may have been here my whole career. This is like a place where I feel like, one, they take care of they own. I truly believe that they take care of their own. Two, guys really want to be here." Ramsey explained that such mutual commitment between player and team is not common across the league, making Pittsburgh stand out. He also noted how much players genuinely want to be part of the organization, praising the coaching staff, fan base, and the team’s tradition of winning. To him, it is a football environment built for long-term success and player happiness. "I've heard them say it when they were going through TJ [Watt's] contract, I was watching Mike [Tomlin's] interviews," Ramsey said. "He's like, 'Both sides want to get it done, so it's gonna get done. That's not always the case where you at everywhere. But here, it is like, 'I want to be here. Let's figure it out. Let's do it the right way!' They handle business the right way. Fans are amazing here. Coaching staff is amazing here. They're always winning here. It's not much to not be happy about if you truly love football." Ramsey went further by admitting that if he had been drafted by the Steelers earlier in his career, things might have turned out much differently. He suggested that his mindset and focus could have been even sharper and that he might have spent his entire career in Pittsburgh. Steelers' Jalen Ramsey Really Loving His Time In Pittsburgh For Ramsey, the Steelers represent the kind of stability, respect, and winning culture that players strive for. His comments not only highlight his high regard for the organization, but also serve as a reminder of the unique culture that has made Pittsburgh one of the most respected franchises in the NFL. Ramsey was drafted in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He arrives in Pittsburgh at the age of 30, aiming to help the team build the best defense in the league. His career has included stops in Jacksonville, with the Los Angeles Rams where he won a Super Bowl, and with the Dolphins. Now he is enjoying his time in the Steel City. Do you believe Ramsey's career would have been a lot different had Pittsburgh originally drafted him in that 2016 NFL Draft?
Jordan Love's thumb surgery comes at inopportune time for Packers
The Green Bay Packers have a cause for concern with Jordan Love in the preseason. The quarterback suffered a thumb injury during the Packers' 30-10 loss to the New York Jets on Saturday. Love went 1-of-5 passing for seven yards and took a sack for -3 yards in the defeat. Both of his drives ended in punts. Per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, Love is set to have surgery on his thumb after seeing how it held up at practice on Monday. General manager Brian Gutekunst believes Love will be ready for Week 1 against the Detroit Lions. "Gutekunst sounded adamant that Love will be ready for Week 1 against the Lions," Schneidman wrote. "Hit his left hand on a helmet on that half-scramble vs. Jets. Wanted to see how it felt at practice yesterday and decided to get it fixed to avoid future issues. Will be with team in Indianapolis. "Brian Gutekunst says Jordan Love is having a procedure done on his left thumb. It’s a 'ligament thing.' Hurt it in the preseason opener. Gutekunst hopes he returns to practice next week." The injury comes at an inopportune time for the Packers. Love and the majority of his receivers have not been in sync during training camp and in the preseason game. Like last season, Packers' receivers have dropped passes during practices and did so in the preseason opener against the Jets. Green Bay needs Love on the field, gaining chemistry with his pass-catching targets, including first-round pick Matthew Golden, before it plays the Lions.
Notre Dame believed to be trending toward surprise choice at quarterback
The quarterback battle for Notre Dame is set to come to an end shortly, and it might be a surprise considering how the national media predicted the race to finish. Per Eric Hansen of On3, head coach Marcus Freeman is set to name the starting quarterback by Sunday when he meets the media. The Irish are still letting the quarterback battle play out until then, but it appears sophomore quarterback Kenny Minchey is the favorite to start at Hard Rock Stadium against the Miami Hurricanes on Aug. 31. Minchey has shown improvement in numerous areas throughout camp, and he has the edge on freshman quarterback CJ Carr in what is believed to be the final week of the competition. "As of Wednesday, the line between 1 and 2 remained blurred," Hansen wrote. "The tiebreaker may eventually go to Minchey, per the source, because of his ability to be a true running threat and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock’s preference to have that element to put pressure on opposing defenses. "But he also has a preference for QBs who can transcend adversity, and the training camp phase was choreographed to test precisely that. While both contenders responded persistently in a manner that defies their inexperience, Minchey has been exceptional in that regard." Throughout the summer, ESPN writers such as Bill Connelly and Mark Schlabach have written as though it were a forgone conclusion that Carr would win the battle in training camp. However, Minchey appears to be a natural fit for how offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock likes to scheme against a defense. He helped dual-threat Jayden Daniels earn a Heisman Trophy in 2023 and took Notre Dame to a national championship appearance with Riley Leonard. The battle isn't over, but the edge appears to be running Minchey's way.
What to know about the 10 hottest college football QB battles
The college football season is almost here. The preseason Associated Press and Coaches Top-25 Polls are out. Pundits are delivering their conference power rankings, projected College Football Playoff brackets and All-America teams. Even as the season is just 10 days away for those playing in Week 0, which quarterbacks will start for some of the country's best programs remains to be seen. Teams continue to conduct their summer camps and scrimmages so that coaches can decipher which signal-caller they will go with to start the season. Here are the 10 most intriguing quarterback battles, in no particular order. Notre Dame The chatter is that things are picking up steam in the battle here. Redshirt freshman CJ Carr was the presumed favorite entering preseason camp, although sophomore Kenny Minchey is gaining momentum, experts say. Whichever QB wins out must face Miami on the road in the opener. Ohio State There's not much separation between sophomore Julian Sayin, a transfer from Alabama, and junior Lincoln Kienholz. With a scrimmage slated for this coming weekend, On3's Pete Nakos gives a slight edge to Sayin. Head coach Ryan Day has a tough decision looming. Michigan Four signal-callers with the Wolverines are duking it out for the starting spot. Leading the way is true freshman Bryce Underwood, the nation's No. 1 prospect in the 2025 class. Other contenders are sophomore Jadyn Davis and graduate students Mikey Keene and Jake Garcia. Michigan coaches have praised Underwood for his work ethic, and he could have the upper hand. Syracuse It's neck-and-neck between LSU transfer Rickie Collins and Notre Dame transfer Steve Angeli. Head coach Fran Brown named Collins the starter in the spring, but that was before Angeli moved from the Fighting Irish to the Orange. The buzz is that Angeli may have a slight edge at this juncture, with another scrimmage planned for this weekend. Tennessee This competition looks to come down to Appalachian State/UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar and redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger, although true freshman George MacIntyre played well during the Volunteers' latest scrimmage. Aguilar is trending to be the team's starter in Week 1 against Syracuse in Atlanta, according to Nakos. Colorado Things remain up in the air at quarterback for Deion Sanders' Buffaloes. The buzz is that Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter may be the favorite, although it would be foolish to count out true freshman Julian Lewis, a five-star prospect and a top-five quarterback in the 2025 cycle. Still, look for Salter to prevail. North Carolina Given that the Tar Heels' head coach is NFL legend Bill Belichick, don't expect a lot of chatter to come out from him before the season opener. That being said, it appears South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez is out in front of graduate student Max Johnson. UNC is expected to have its first official scrimmage this weekend. Purdue The two quarterbacks competing for the top job with the Boilermakers are North Carolina transfer Ryan Browne, who had previously played for Purdue, and Malachi Singleton, a transfer from Arkansas. Browne holds a small advantage, per On3. Oregon Redshirt sophomore Dante Moore is thought to be the starter for the Ducks, but it's not a certainty. Moore was the starting QB at UCLA in 2023, but then transferred to Oregon. He's battling redshirt sophomore Austin Novosad, who is entering his third season with the Ducks. Georgia For the Bulldogs, redshirt junior Gunner Stockton is anticipated to be the team's starter. However, redshirt freshman Ryan Puglisi has played well during Georgia's fall camp. Stockton is the clear favorite, but Puglisi has kept this quarterback competition interesting.
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