The relationship between the Pittsburgh Steelers and their new quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been a tough one to navigate thus far. Rodgers and Pittsburgh had been linked to one another since the beginning of free agency in March. However, a deal was not officially signed until June 6th. While there were rumors that Rodgers liked the idea of playing for the Minnesota Vikings, no real traction was ever developed toward a deal. The Steelers for several months were the team that had pursued Rodgers the most and were most heavily linked to the four-time league MVP. It is now becoming more clear that Rodgers may have been more interested than he ever tipped off in the months he was making his decision.
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Former New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers stands with teammates before a game in 2023.
When Rodgers showed up for the Steelers' mandatory minicamp last week, he made sure to let his teammates know that he was all in. Rodgers has been showing in small bits just how all in he is with Pittsburgh throughout the offseason. He got together with his new top receiver in DK Metcalf earlier in the spring for a throwing session, but this was some of the only proof we had of Rodgers showing his commitment to Pittsburgh. Now that he is signed, we are finding out a bit more about how Rodgers and the Steelers came to be, and what drew the veteran to the Steel City.
NFL reporter Albert Breer recently joined The Herd on FOX Sports to talk about something Rodgers had been searching for that only the Steelers could offer him.
"They are asking him to jump on a moving train, and even if the things aren't perfect there, there is something established," Breer explained. "That culture has been in place for almost 20 years now, and so I think what appealed to Aaron about coming to Pittsburgh versus what he had to do in New York the last two years is Aaron, just come in here and play quarterback. That's all we're asking you to do."
The Steelers had made it clear through all of their moves in free agency and through the 2025 NFL Draft that they were constructing an offense for Rodgers. This was upsetting to some fans because Rodgers did not sign with the team immediately. Breer also mentions earlier in his segment that Rodgers had made it a priority to stay in contact with Mike Tomlin and Arthur Smith throughout his process. Now that Rodgers is signed and ready for his first season in the black and gold, we are learning that Rodgers and the Steelers had known this was coming for quite some time.
Sebastian Foltz / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers throws a pass during a mandatory minicamp practice with the team.
The culture of the Steelers is stability, something Rodgers has lacked from an organizational standpoint over the last few years. The Steelers also have a roster that is ready to win, and just needed a quarterback that provided a consistent level of exceptional play. Although Rodgers is only under contract for one year, he has the chance to make some serious noise with a team that is focused on a deep playoff run, and a coaching staff that hasn't had a losing record in almost two decades.
Rodgers Will Dictate How The Steelers Play Offense In 2025
An interesting note about Smith and Rodgers is that their relationship may be more polished than we think. Smith has worked closely with two of Rodgers' most recent play-callers, Todd Downing and Matt LaFleur. It has also been reported that Rodgers and Smith will meet over the next month or so before training camp begins to go over the playbook. While fans are used to seeing a more run-heavy approach with Smith, we can reasonably expect a big change with Rodgers under center.
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Steelers Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith in the huddle with his unit before a game in 2024.
Meeting with the media after minicamp practice last week, Smith was asked about the investments the team made in Rodgers and Metcalf. Smith has the smart response of saying that the team doesn't plan to "run the wishbone." Rodgers is one of the best arm talents the league has ever seen, and the Steelers are more than aware of that. At the end of the day, Rodgers will be a big factor in how the Steelers' offense runs in 2025. We can expect a bit more passing, particularly downfield than we have seen in recent years.
How do you feel about Rodgers and the Steelers' offense for 2025? Let us know in the comments below!
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