Steelers' Secret Deadline For Aaron Rodgers Now Uncovered

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been entangled in a quarterback saga for quite some time now. In terms of the 2025 season, the Steelers have put all of their eggs into one basket. That basket is the 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is still deciding if he wants to play football or not. If he does, it seems all signs are pointing to Rodgers doing so in Pittsburgh for one season in 2025.

Steelers fans have been patient, but are quickly losing patience, wondering when Rodgers will announce his decision. The uncertainty surrounding his future has kept fans on edge, eagerly waiting for clarity. With the team having invested so much in Rodgers, any delay in his decision could have a ripple effect on their offseason plans and overall direction.

On Monday, former NFL QB Matt Hasselbeck told popular sports media personality Colin Cowherd that he believes the deadline is Phase 3 of the offseason program. He even gave a specific date for Steelers fans to keep an eye out for. That date has now become a critical point for the organization and its fan base, with all hopes pinned on Rodgers making a decision one way or another.

"I just mentioned the three phases for a veteran quarterback," Hasselbeck said. "Phase 1 feels like a waste of your time. Like, it's just lifting... There's no football there. Anyway, Phase 2, again, you're throwing to guys on air, not that important. Phase 3 I think is really important. So for the Pittsburgh Steelers, I believe that's May 27th. May 27th is the start of Phase 3."

Hasselbeck, who played 18 seasons in the NFL, has witnessed many changes in the league, particularly in terms of structure and offseason workouts. Despite these shifts, he remains deeply familiar with how things operate. 

According to Hasselbeck, May 27th is the key date that Steelers fans and the organization should circle on their calendars as the final deadline for Rodgers' decision.

"I would circle that May 27th date as a date that like, it would really be detrimental to be starting the missing time at that point," Hasselbeck said.

Now, that doesn’t mean if Rodgers hasn’t made his decision by May 27th that he’s officially done playing football or won’t be joining the Steelers. However, that’s the date when Steelers fans would be justified in getting seriously frustrated with the ongoing uncertainty. At that point, the delay would start to become detrimental to the team’s preparation and overall plans for the 2025 season. Until then, Hasselbeck believes the situation isn’t a major concern.

If Rodgers ultimately decides not to play in Pittsburgh in 2025, the Steelers are fully prepared to move forward with Mason Rudolph—a quarterback they know well and who saved their 2023 season. Despite Rudolph’s flashes of success in Pittsburgh, his brief stint with the Tennessee Titans left much to be desired. Around the league, there isn’t a strong belief that he’s a long-term solution under center.

Steelers Drafted QB Will Howard In Sixth Round Of The 2025 NFL Draft

The Steelers also selected quarterback Will Howard in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but there’s little confidence he’ll be ready to start as a rookie. Without Rodgers, it’s likely Rudolph and Howard would compete for the starting job, setting the stage for an unpredictable and possibly rocky season. If Rodgers does arrive, however, it would give Steelers fans and NFL pundits a much-needed sigh of relief heading into 2025.

Howard comes to Pittsburgh with more hype than most sixth-round picks. He led Ohio State to a National Championship in 2024, is oozing with confidence, and carries a massive chip on his shoulder. While Howard wouldn’t scare many teams around the league, if Rodgers doesn’t come, perhaps a cool story could emerge for the Steelers in 2025.

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