Former GM, NFL insider warn Steelers about Aaron Rodgers after latest comments

During a Thursday appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers gave no indication he is close to signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers amid whispers suggesting he isn't all-in on playing for the club later this year. 

While speaking on Friday's edition of the "Get Up" program, former NFL general manager and current ESPN personality Mike Tannenbaum warned the Steelers about their ongoing interest in having Rodgers serve as their 2025 QB1. 

"[Coach Bill Parcells'] words were reverberating," Tannenbaum said about the Rodgers segment, as shared by Josh Carney of Steelers Depot. "When a player's talking about being retired, they are retired. That did not sound like a person that was prepared to be a starting NFL quarterback and the rigors of a 17-game season, which is fine. It's over. If I'm the Steelers, it is over. We're moving on."

Rodgers insisted during the conversation that he isn't "waiting around for" the Minnesota Vikings to pick him over 2024 first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy, who is beginning springtime workouts as Minnesota's starter coming off the full meniscus repair that cost him his rookie season. However, Rodgers neither confirmed nor denied that he could pick the Vikings over the Steelers if Minnesota decides in June that he is the better option for the club, which went 14-3 this past season. 

The fact that Rodgers said he is "trying to be open to everything and not specifically attached to anything when it comes to this decision" could lead one to believe he's not eager to join the Steelers anytime soon. 

"I know what it's like to talk to a player that wants to come and try to help compete for a championship," Tannenbaum continued during his comments about Rodgers. "What he said [Thursday] had nothing to do with something like somebody that wants to do that. [Steelers owner and president Art Rooney II]...at the league meeting, talked about we think something's imminent. We think something's likely. An owner/president doesn't come out and say that unless they really feel that way. Juxtapose that to what Aaron Rodgers said [Thursday]. I think we're a million miles away from this guy wanting to be a Steeler."

Meanwhile, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio expanded on why the Steelers should want to avoid the full "Aaron Rodgers Experience" following Thursday's developments. 

"Rodgers...called the Jets a 'debacle' and complained about the lack of respect the team exhibited to him," Florio wrote for a piece published Friday. "Which is relevant to the Steelers because, eventually, he’d be a former member of that team, too. And if the Steelers don’t perform well with Rodgers at quarterback, he’ll be inclined to look for someone else to blame. And to potentially criticize the Steelers after he’s gone."

Heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, the Steelers have longtime backup Mason Rudolph and potential QB3 Skylar Thompson on the roster. Reports have linked the Steelers with Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart, Jalen Milroe and Will Howard, but none of those to-be rookies may be ready to face live defenses in meaningful games this September. 

"He’s better than any other option they currently have on the roster," Florio added about Rodgers. "The Steelers should try to find some better options. Draft someone, trade someone, find a free agent. Anything. Rodgers, I’ve concluded, will be more trouble than he’s worth. The positives won’t sufficiently counter the negatives."