Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers has penned a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, ending weeks of uncertainty as to where the four-time NFL MVP would be playing in the 2025 season.
Having spent two troubled years at the New York Jets, the first of which saw the former Green Bay Packers star sidelined with a season-ending injury within minutes of his first game, and the second seeing the 41-year-old failing to make a positive impact at MetLife Stadium.
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Rodgers, who won the Super Bowl in 2011, is clearly not the same player as he once was, but is still more than capable of making a positive impact at the Acrisure Stadium, with head coach Mike Tomlin now set to enter his 19th season in charge.
The one-year deal will net him $13 million, and the Steelers, who have reached the playoffs in four of the last four seasons, will hope he offers them a little bit more as they push for a first Super Bowl triumph since 2008.
On completing the deal, Rodgers said of his move to Pittsburgh, "here or not playing.", which hardly sounds inspiring. He went on to discuss the reasons for making the move, stating.
“I think it starts with Mike Tomlin,”
“I’ve been a fan of his for a long time. There are a few iconic franchises in the NFL. I played for one of them for 18 years. This is another one.”
"I don't need it for my ego,"
"I don't need it to keep playing. A lot of decisions that I've made over my career and life from strictly the ego, even if they turn out well, are always unfulfilling. But the decisions made from the soul are usually pretty fulfilling.”
"This was a decision that was best for my soul and I felt like being here with coach [Mike Tomlin] and the guys that got here, and the opportunity here was the best for me and I'm excited to be here." Rodgers added.
By all accounts, both the New York Giants and the Minnesota Vikings had been considering a move for Rodgers, but the option to bring in the ageing QB will have been impacted by his poor showing with the Jets, hence the relative lack of tangible offers for his services.
On those other potential avenues, Rodgers commented.
"There were conversations with other organizations, for sure,"
"But again, the rapport that fell in between me and Mike made it to where, as I was going through my personal stuff, there wasn't any other option for me. It was here or not play."
The term legend is overused in sports, and certainly in the NFL, but as it relates to Rodgers, it’s a fair assessment of what’s gone before. We are talking about a player who has thrown for 62,952 yards and is one of five quarterbacks in the 500 touchdown club, while his 102.6 passer rating is the all-time record among qualified passers.
As to whether his move to the Steelers will significantly increase those stats, that’s unclear.
