The Pittsburgh Steelers have been waiting for months on a decision from veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers on what he wants to do with his future. The Steelers are the only true option the quarterback has if he plans on being a starter during the 2025 season, while there is also the chance that Rodgers decides to call it a career and retire. It is hard to believe the four-time league MVP would be okay with his career ending the way it did with the New York Jets, which is a big reason that Pittsburgh fans have had such optimism throughout the 2025 offseason ever since the two sides were first linked together.
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Former Green Bay Packers and New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers during a round of golf.
Many fans are fed up with Rodgers and this long charade he has put them through, however it should be coming to a close in the near future. Pittsburgh's Organized Team Activities (OTAs) begin on May 27th and run through June 5th, while mandatory minicamp begins on June 10th and goes through June 12th. Those two stretches of days are very important to keep an eye on, as a starting quarterback should want to be with his team during those key points in the offseason.
NFL insider Adam Schefter spoke about Rodgers joining Pittsburgh during an appearance on Unsportsmanlike on Tuesday, and he shared that fans in Pittsburgh should maybe be worried if the veteran isn't signed by June 10th.
"It's hard for me to imagine that if he does intend to sign with Pittsburgh that he's gonna skip the mandatory minicamp in June," Schefter said. "Is it critical? No it's not, but I think everybody could agree that if you're gonna be stepping into a new situation, it would be ideal to be there now, but it would certainly be ideal to be there for mandatory minicamp. If he's not there June 10th to 12th, I think at that point, it's fair to wonder if he is gonna play."
This is a fair assumption from Schefter. If Rodgers signs in Pittsburgh, he is going to be stepping into a new offensive system. He will also have new teammates all around him. This will not be like when he joined the Jets and was able to bring all of his friends with him from the Green Bay Packers. There is going to be a bit of a higher learning curve upon his arrival in Pittsburgh.
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Former New York Jets WR Davante Adams (left) and Aaron Rodgers (right) celebrate a victory in 2024.
If Rodgers signs, he will be playing in a new offensive scheme and he will be throwing to new receivers. He has already gotten to know DK Metcalf a little bit as the two had a throwing session together earlier this offseason, but Rodgers' chemistry with all of the other offensive weapons is just as important.
This wouldn't be a worry with any other quarterback, but Rodgers has never really seemed to prioritize offseason activities set into place by the teams he is on. Hopefully he decides to sign prior to OTAs or mandatory minicamp, which is what the author of his biography predicted to happen.
Steelers And Aaron Rodgers Need Each Other
Pittsburgh has had quarterback trouble ever since the 2022 offseason when Ben Roethlisberger retired from the NFL. The room has been inconsistent, but Rodgers would probably give the Steelers the best chance to win out of any quarterback that has been on the roster over the last three seasons.
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Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin meets with former New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers after a game during the 2024 NFL season.
Rodgers also needs the Steelers. He has had a tremendous career, but the last two years with the Jets have been atrocious. Now that he has the chance to go to a competent organization like the Steelers, he should be leaping at the opportunity and eventually sign a contract. He can end his career on the right foot, while hopefully leading Pittsburgh in the right direction.
What do you think about Rodgers potentially retiring? Let us know in the comments below!
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