The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves in a tough spot at quarterback. They need to determine who their long-term starter will be. For the 2024 season, they have Russell Wilson and Justin Fields on team-friendly deals, but if they decide to move forward with one of them in 2025, it will come at a much higher cost.
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Quarterbacks Justin Fields and Russell Wilson sit on the bench during a regular season game for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Steelers aren’t expected to retain both Wilson and Fields, but they are likely to bring back one. Among the fan base, Fields is the clear favorite, largely because his market value of $6.4 million is far more affordable than Wilson’s $38.7 million. Additionally, Fields is significantly younger, and if he can put everything together, he has a real shot at becoming the franchise quarterback.
Now, another quarterback has entered the Steelers' rumor mill. According to DraftKings, 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers has the best odds of joining Pittsburgh. However, the idea hasn’t gained much traction, as Rodgers struggled to help the New York Jets win in 2024, despite strong personal production.
Steelers safety DeShon Elliott didn’t hold back his thoughts on the rumor, hilariously suggesting Rodgers should be left at the retirement home. His reaction made waves, and sports media star Stephen A. Smith weighed in on Elliott’s comments during Wednesday morning’s episode of First Take on ESPN.
"I respect DeShon Elliott," Smith said. "I like him on the Steelers, but he might need to keep his mouth shut. Leave that to Mike, to let Mike Tomlin say that. Let, let one of the executives say that. Or if you gonna let a player say it, let it be somebody like a TJ Watt."
Elliott made a strong impression in his first season with the Steelers, emerging as one of their best offseason additions. He quickly became a key piece of Pittsburgh’s defense, making his presence felt on the field. However, he also stirred up some controversy with his outspoken opinions and social media activity.
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Steelers' Deshon Elliott warms up prior to a matchup with the Washington Commanders in 2024.
Former Steelers safety Ryan Clark previously called him out for talking recklessly after a loss, and now Smith is pushing back, arguing that Elliott isn’t the one who should be shutting the door on Rodgers coming to Pittsburgh.
"I just don't think that DeShon Elliott should have said what he said," Smith said. "I don't think he's in a position respectfully to say that kind of stuff."
As Elliott enters his second season in Pittsburgh, he's still early in his journey with the team. Smith argues that he shouldn’t be the one shutting the door on outside quarterbacks. However, Elliott’s comments simply echoed how most Steelers fans feel. While there’s no denying Rodgers’ greatness, at 41 years old, he’s not the answer Steelers fans are looking for.
Steelers Would Be Playing A Dangerous Game With Aaron Rodgers
Adding Rodgers would certainly be an interesting move, but the Steelers don’t have the personnel to protect him properly. He took a beating in 2024 behind a struggling offensive line, and Pittsburgh saw a similar issue with Wilson. Rodgers, being even less mobile, would face the same problem. On top of that, bringing him in would turn the season into a media circus.
Rodgers would bring plenty of internal drama, especially with comments like Elliott’s and the inevitable scrutiny if the Steelers struggle in 2025. When things go south, he would likely take the blame—and history shows he doesn’t handle that well.
AP
Jets' Aaron Rodgers shakes hands with Steelers' Mike Tomlin and Russell Wilson after losing in Pittsburgh during the 2024 NFL season.
If the Steelers are truly looking to shake things up and explore every option, they could consider bringing in Rodgers as a bridge quarterback while targeting a franchise QB in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, with so many possibilities on the table, signing a 41-year-old Rodgers isn’t an exciting one for most fans.
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