Timeline Revealed for Steelers on Aaron Rodgers’ Looming Decision
It appears that Aaron Rodgers’ looming decision is inching closer to a conclusion. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the announcement could come in the next few days.
“Aaron just calls his own shots,” Pelissero said during an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio.“My impression from talking to a lot of people involved is that people believe this answer is coming in the near term, maybe even within the next few days here.”
The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted Rodgers for six hours last Friday, but he left UPMC Rooney Sports Complex without a contract. That doesn’t mean the visit went poorly, though.
In fact, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport believes quite the opposite in that it was a very productive meeting.
“As far as the visit,” Rapoport said on the Pat McAfee Show. “It sounded like it went really well.”
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk also thinks it’s a “safe bet” that the Steelers land Aaron Rodgers. The “when,” however, remains a mystery.
Florio speculates that Rodgers could announce that he’s signing with the Steelers at Pat McAfee’s “Big Night AHT” at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on April 9. Rodgers appears on McAfee’s show every Tuesday during the season.
April 21 could also be a soft deadline for Rodgers’ decision, as that’s when the Steelers start offseason workouts.
NFL insider Albert Breer revealed in his Monday morning column for Sports Illustrated that Rodgers covets a similar culture to what he had with the Green Bay Packers. If there’s any NFL team that runs a franchise like the Packers, it’s the Steelers. Both organizations play in blue-collar, small markets and have strong traditions and value stability.
“I’ve heard Rodgers is looking for a culture such as the one in Green Bay. I get it if that sounds a little strange after the drama of the four-time MVP’s final years as a Packer. But over the past few months, Rodgers has been open with people around him on his renewed appreciation for what he had for 18 seasons in Wisconsin,” Breer wrote. “Call it a grass-is-greener dynamic if you want, but it definitely has felt, to some of those around him, like spending a couple years as a New York Jet made Rodgers view the situation he had more favorably. That’s also one area where the Steelers have an edge—Pittsburgh has a long-established culture, a family-business feel, and stability, just like Green Bay. It also helps, I’d think, that the roster is stocked with decorated veterans such as T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Minkah Fitzpatrick and now DK Metcalf, who are deep into their careers and presumably would carry a similar win-now urgency to Rodgers.”
Rodgers and Mike Tomlin have always spoke highly of each other, as well. That factor could play a big part in Rodgers’ decision.
“I’m a big Mike Tomlin fan,” Rodgers said in 2021. “I have been for a long time. I like the way he speaks about his team. I like the way that he goes about his business. I like his confidence. I’ve heard nothing but good things from guys that have played there.”