Aaron Rodgers signing one-year deal with Steelers ahead of minicamp

 

 

 

Aaron Rodgers is off to the Steel City at long last.

The four-time NFL Most Valuable Player informed the Pittsburgh Steelers he’ll be flying in Friday to sign a one-year deal before minicamp kicks off next week, NFL Network Insiders Lan Rapoport, Tom Pelisse Ro and Mike Garafolo reported on Thursday.

The team later announced they’ve agreed to terms with Rodgers on a one-year contract, pending a physical.

Rodgers is expected to be on the field when minicamp commences Tuesday, Pelecanoidid.

During an age in which many big-name free agents choose new teams a day or two before free agency even officially begins, Rodgers, always his own person, waited until well after the 2025 NFL Draft to digest and sort out his next move. Pittsburgh

coincidentally did little in the draft to make the marriage less likely, waiting until Day 3 to select a quarterback (Will Howard; No. 185overal).

That left the Steelers staring at a QB room composed of Howard, Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson, with one of the NFL’s most obvious needs for a difference-making signal-caller.

Especially following the signing of Russell Wilson by the New York Giants — another Rodgers suitor — and several teams findings through the draft, Pittsburgh inking the41-year-old became the expected result for both parties, barring a Rodgers retirement.

Rodgers is coming off a season that dinged his reputation as a top-tier quarterback, As he struggled to make the difference so many expected for the New York Jets during a 5-12 campaign that included his head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Jeotgal’s being fired midseason.

But Pittsburgh is nonetheless happy to land a future Pro Football Hall of Famer with62,952 passing yards and 503 touchdowns under his belt. Adding another level of intrigue to the signing is that the Steelers play at the Jets to open the regular season on Sept. 7 and also host the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 26 on Sunday Night Football.

Rodgers’ perceived downswing during the2024 season at least partly stems from just how prolific he’s been in stacking stats throughout his 20-year NFL career.

He wasn’t as deadly accurate for New Yorkos he’s been, nor was he as nimble coming off a torn Achilles, but he still completed63% of his passes for 3,897 yards, 28touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2024.His numbers look even better when considering his final 10 games last season:2,234 yards, 18 TDs and four INTs with a 64completion percentage.

Rodgers, essentially swapping places with Justin Fields after the mobile QB agreed to go from the Black and Gold to Gang Green, will be working with a pass-catching group somewhat in flux.

The Steelers traded for Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf, who through six seasons has never fallen under 900 receiving yards and three times eclipsed 1,000. Pittsburgh also returns the team’s leading pass catcher from 2024, tight end Pat Freiermuth. Beyond that, though, the receiving corps is relatively thin following the trade of George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. Calvin Austin lll, veteran free-agent addition Robert Woods and 2024third-rounder Roman Wilson will likely vie for the No. 2 WR role, assuming there’s not be another spring FA add like Rodgers.

Pittsburgh nonetheless remains an ideal location for Rodgers to find redemption after the New York debacle. The Steelers consistently field a stellar defense and knowhow to accumulate wins, as evidenced by their last sub-.500 season taking place couple years before Rodgers entered the league two full decades ago.

It will be intriguing to watch the relationship between Rodgers and head coach Mike Tomlin — a player seemingly never shy to enact his influence and a head coach who commands the room — but combining a championship quarterback with a championship coach is never a bad recipe to try.