Why Steelers should stop playing the waiting game with Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers. Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

Why Steelers should stop playing the waiting game with Aaron Rodgers

By Clark Dalton | Last updated May 22, 2025 4:57 PM ET

The Pittsburgh Steelers seem to be clinging to the hope that free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers will sign with them. Perhaps they should let go of it.

Reports indicate the Steelers expect Rodgers to sign with them before OTAs start on Tuesday. However, on Wednesday's episode of "The Joe Rogan Experience," the 41-year-old QB didn't reveal if/when he'll sign with the Steelers (h/t Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio). Rodgers mentioned a "number of people in [his] life" are battling cancer, which may be delaying his decision.

On April 1, Steelers owner Art Rooney II said the team won't wait "forever, but a little while longer" for Rodgers. Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Rooney reiterated this comment at Wednesday's owners meetings.

#Steelers president Art Rooney II -- who said April 1 that the Steelers will wait "not forever, but a little while longer" for Aaron Rodgers -- delivered a similar line on his way out of Wednesday's owners meetings.

“A little while longer. I’ll say the same thing," he said.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) May 22, 2025

Giving Rodgers time to tend to friends dealing with health problems is understandable. Still, the Steelers need him to decide soon.

If they continue to assume that Rodgers will sign with them, that could create problems in OTAs and mandatory minicamp.

Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith may not determine whether to design plays with Rodgers in mind. Players also may not bond with QBs Mason Rudolph and rookie Will Howard if they feel they are placeholders for the future Hall of Famer.

The Steelers may feel the four-time MVP could make them a bona fide Super Bowl contender after going 10-7 and losing in the wild-card round last season.

However, he looked like a fading star last season. In 17 starts with the New York Jets, he went 5-12, posting a below-average 48 QBR.

Rudolph and Howard aren't ideal options for the Steelers. Rudolph has a 9-8-1 starting record in the regular season. Howard won a national championship at Ohio State in 2024, but the sixth-round pick may lack the upside needed to become a successful starting QB.

But giving Rudolph or Howard a chance may be better for the Steelers than banking on Rodgers. It's fair to wonder if he wants to play next season. More importantly, it's fair to doubt he's the answer for Pittsburgh.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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