The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a roadblock in their pursuit of Aaron Rodgers. The Steelers do not have a starting quarterback for the 2025 season. Sure, they brought back Mason Rudolph, but there is not much confidence that he is a starter at this stage in his career. All the efforts have been focused on Pittsburgh striking a deal with the four-time league MVP Rodgers.
The roadblock was allegedly Rodgers’s inability to rush to complete a deal. On Friday, it was reported that Rodgers was in Pittsburgh, meeting with Mike Tomlin, Omar Khan and Art Rooney II at the facility. That visit has given Steelers fans hope that a resolution could come sooner rather than later.
A deal could happen soon, but Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio exposed who has been holding up Rodgers’s deal with the Steelers. According to Florio, Rodgers’ agent, David Dunn, carefully weighed his options and controlled the timeline. While Pittsburgh is eager to make it official, it all comes down to when and if Rodgers finally decides to commit.
“Some (hand raised) have criticized quarterback Aaron Rodgers for taking his time in picking a new team,” Florio wrote. “As one source explains it, however, Rodgers is simply being a good client. Rodgers’ agent, David Dunn, has been encouraging Rodgers to be patient. Patience can become leverage. Leverage can improve offers. As we understand it, the Steelers have had an offer on the table for nearly two weeks. It hasn’t been sweetened, yet. It could be, in theory.”
While Florio and many others have been harsh about Rodgers’s delay in making his decision, new information has shed light on the situation. It has now been revealed that Rodgers is simply trying to be a respectful client, giving his agent the time and space to handle negotiations properly.
Instead of rushing the process, Rodgers lets his agent take the lead, ensuring every detail is handled correctly.
“Ultimately, Rodgers will do whatever he wants,” Florio wrote. “In 2023, for example, he gave up more than $35 million in compensation from the Jets — to the dismay of the firm that gets paid a percentage of what he makes. If Rodgers wants to take the pending offer, he can. If he wants Dunn to counter, Rodgers can make that directive. For now, it’s the Steelers or the Giants. The Vikings are out, for now. And possibly for good. The Steelers are in. And with Rodgers literally in Pittsburgh, the Steelers have the first crack at signing him.”
Many pundits and fans assumed that the Minnesota Vikings’ slight interest in the situation was the reason for the holdup. However, according to Florio’s sources, the Vikings are not interested. If true, that is great news for the Steelers and their hopes of landing Rodgers. With Minnesota out of the picture, Pittsburgh now stands out as the most attractive landing spot by far.
Steelers willing to take massive risk with Rodgers
This should make the decision much easier for Rodgers, who appears to be seriously considering a move to the Steel City. While some have viewed the pursuit of Rodgers as controversial, risky, and expensive, the Steelers see him as the perfect bridge quarterback. They believe he can help them compete for Super Bowls at the highest level while they continue the search for their long-term franchise quarterback.
All eyes are now on Rodgers as the process continues. It will be fascinating to see when and if he agrees to a deal with the Steelers and officially begins what could be one of the most intriguing chapters in recent franchise history.