Cam Heyward Puts Aaron Rodgers on Notice: ‘Either You Want to Be a Pittsburgh Steeler or You Don’t’
Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro defensive tackle Cam Heyward is tired of waiting around for Aaron Rodgers. The contact period for free agency started over a week ago, and the Steelers still don’t have an answer at quarterback. Heyward put out a blunt message to the four-time league MVP on the latest episode of his Not Just Football podcast.
“I ain’t doing that darkness retreat. I don’t need any of that crap,” Heyward said. “Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don’t. That’s simple, that’s the pitch. If you want me to recruit, that’s the recruiting pitch. Pittsburgh Steelers — if you want to be part of it, so be it. If you don’t, no skin off my back.”
Heyward just wants to move forward and focus on the rest of the 2025 offseason. He’s tired of hearing about the endless chatter of the Steelers’ quarterback situation.
“I just want to play football. I’m tired of talking about the quarterback situation. I’d rather have it done,” Heyward said. “I don’t know what ends up happening. I’m ready to move on in free agency.”
The Steelers signed Mason Rudolph as an insurance policy, but it wouldn’t be a good look if they don’t end up landing Rodgers. It would be like the Brandon Aiyuk situation all over again for general manager Omar Khan.
If Rudolph ends up being QB1 in 2025, Heyward likes the Steelers chances.
“Mason’s a good dude. I think Mason proved to a lot of Steelers fans, not just this past year, but last year when he stepped in for us, that he was ready. You know, if we don’t sign a quarterback, and we go in the year with Mason, I think we feel good about it,” Heyward said. “Excited to have him back. He’s really a guy for the locker room, and a lot of guys vibe with him. So to bring him back, part of the group is special.”
It seems like Rodgers’ looming decision is still very much in the air. And who knows when that decision will be made. Only Rodgers does. There’s been reports that it could drag out until the NFL Draft in late April.
Perhaps Heyward’s message will motivate the Steelers to make a decision, or at the very least, give Rodgers a hard deadline.
Rodgers, J.J. McCarthy, the Steelers and New York Giants are reportedly waiting on Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell to make a decision if the Vikings are going to pursue the 41-year-old quarterback. This appears to be the biggest road block, according to a report by The Athletic.
“After conversations with more than a dozen league sources, this is where Rodgers, the Vikings and two other teams courting the 41-year-old quarterback the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers stand. Rodgers is hoping to sign with the Vikings,” The Athletic report stated, which was written by Mike Sliver, Dianna Russini and Alec Lewis.
If the Steelers miss out on Rodgers, some of their fallback options include — re-signing Russell Wilson or signing a veteran like Joe Flacco or Jameis Winston. Wilson visited with the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants last week, but it appears he’s waiting on Rodgers’ decision before making a move. Returning to Pittsburgh and reuniting with DK Metcalf seems to be the best course of action for Wilson.
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