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Aaron Rodgers finds himself in a tough spot right now. He recently wrapped up his visit with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and by all accounts, the meeting went well. The Steelers were impressed with what they saw from the veteran quarterback. However, no contract discussions took place, and now Pittsburgh is playing the waiting game.
So when might Rodgers make his decision? ESPN’s Adam Schefter dropped a bombshell during his appearance on ESPN Milwaukee last week that could change everything.
"I'm hearing he might not want to play." đź‘€
— ESPN Milwaukee (@ESPNMilwaukee) March 26, 2025
Adam Schefter on @AaronRodgers12 potential retirement. pic.twitter.com/UIGPXFOoj2
Rodgers’ market is shrinking faster than he might realize
The clock is ticking for the four-time MVP. With Russell Wilson signing in New York last week, Rodgers’ options are evaporating quickly. Cleveland’s chaotic situation makes it an unlikely destination. Tennessee appears set to draft Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the first overall pick while keeping Will Levis in the fold.
That leaves Pittsburgh as potentially his only landing spot.
Is Rodgers using Schefter as a backchannel to spark interest from Minnesota? It’s possible, but the Vikings seem committed to J.J. McCarthy for 2025 — even though the young signal-caller missed his entire rookie season with a torn meniscus. Perhaps Rodgers is betting that McCarthy won’t be fully recovered or will struggle like the first-year quarterback he essentially still is.
The reality is harsh for Rodgers. His New York experience was nothing short of disastrous, and the Jets couldn’t wait to move on once the season ended. Downgrading from the bright lights of New York to Pittsburgh or Minnesota might be too much for his ego to handle. Unlike Tom Brady, who had networks lining up with massive contracts, Rodgers hasn’t generated much interest as a potential NFL analyst.
What makes Pittsburgh different from the Jets is organizational stability. The Steelers have a track record of handling big personalities — remember Antonio Brown? They’ve moved on from difficult players before and continued winning. Mike Tomlin isn’t known for catering to stars, either. He runs a tight ship, and Rodgers would need to fall in line.
If the Steelers decide to draft a quarterback high in April, it would send an unmistakable message: even they’ve grown tired of waiting. And if Pittsburgh — possibly Rodgers’ last good option — moves on, it might signal that the rest of the league has had enough of the drama too.
