Tomlin: Steelers In No Hurry for Aaron Rodgers Decision
PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Pittsburgh Steelers do not have a specific timeline or a deadline for a decision from free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers, head coach Mike Tomlin said on Sunday.
Speaking with the Pittsburgh media at the NFL owner’s meetings on Sunday, Tomlin said the team has not communicated a specific deadline to Rodgers for him to make a decision, and does not believe the team is being held back by the veteran taking his time to make his choice.
“Obviously, we’re still evaluating the acquisition of a guy at that position, whether that’s free agency and/or the draft, so we’re doing our due diligence, communicating with some free agents and also preparing for the draft,” Tomlin said.
Tomlin did not demand a timeframe from Rodgers during his visit to Pittsburgh, saying he preferred to keep things focused on developing their relationship and making sure the pairing is a fit.
“It was a really good day,” Tomlin said. “Specifically, he and I, have obviously known each other for some time. It was good to spend some time together and get to know each other more intimately. …
“I really wanted to spend more of our time, getting to know him better. Things that he values as a player and a man. What he might be looking for at his next stop.”
He pushed back on the idea that waiting for Rodgers either has or could hold the Steelers back in other areas. He said the team has not been harmed at any way in the free agency process by waiting for Rodgers.
“I don’t feel like our free agency plans have been hindered by anything in particular, to be quite honest with you,” Tomlin said. “Particularly the pursuit of one individual? No.”
Despite acknowledging that the team is looking at quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft class — extensively — Tomlin said that the team having or not having Rodgers in the fold will not change its draft plans.
“Our draft are our draft plans,” he said. “We’re right now just information gathering and getting to know the whole field. I imagine that focus and those details will narrow as we get close, but we’re a pretty decent distance from some of that narrowing.”
Just last week, Tomlin was at the pro days of quarterbacks Quinn Ewers of Texas, Will Howard of Ohio State and Riley Leonard of Notre Dame. All three of those players are likely mid-round picks. Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan were also at the Alabama pro day to see Jalen Milroe, and will host Louisville’s Tyler Shough and Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart on pre-draft visits to UMPC Rooney Sports Complex.
With Tomlin saying that Rodgers’ decision will not impact the team’s draft plans, it seems the Steelers are interested in potentially adding more than one player to the position group that currently only contains Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson.
But he does not feel that the team needs to add a veteran to the room, citing a level of faith in Mason Rudolph. With that confidence in Rudolph, and it seeming likely that the team will add a quarterback at some point in the 2025 NFL Draft, the team does not appear to be in a hurry for Rodgers to make up his mind.
“Certainly, we all like to have settled circumstances,” Tomlin said. “But it is a process, the acquisition of talent, whether it’s at the quarterback position or all positions. … I don’t know that we’ve approached it from a deadline perspective. Certainly, you’d like to have settled circumstances, but deadlines don’t often bring that to a head.”
Tomlin went as far as to say that he doesn’t think that not having a starting quarterback solidified in place at any point before the start of training camp would be harmful to the team.
“In the spring, it’s about teaching and learning and getting familiar with players and making sure they get familiar with some of the things we value,” he said. “It’s not an evaluation time of the year for us. It’s certainly not a time of the year where we’re readying ourself for game action. Certainly, training camp would be a line of demarcation in terms of that discussion.”
Rodgers is taking his time. He doesn’t have many, if any other options. The Steelers appear content to take their time, as well. Their Plan B is already in the building.
Rodgers has been a lightning rod for the fanbase, as both the best possible quarterback available and also a polarizing individual. Him taking his sweet old time to make up his mind about what he wants to do in 2025 has not endeared himself further to the Pittsburgh faithful.
In the first time Tomlin spoke about the situation, he said the one thing almost no one wanted to hear: this might go on for a while.