PITTSBURGH — Four-time MVP quarterbacks come to those who wait.
And wait. And wait some more.
Aaron Rodgers has officially agreed to a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team confirmed Thursday. This move ends months of speculation about Rodgers’ next step and brings the future Hall of Famer to a franchise in need of a veteran signal-caller.
The deal is contingent on Rodgers passing a physical exam.
The agreement arrives more than 80 days after the start of NFL free agency and roughly 70 days since Rodgers, now 41, visited Pittsburgh. Sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Rodgers is expected to fly to Pittsburgh on Friday and participate in the team’s upcoming mandatory minicamp.
According to Schefter, Pittsburgh never doubted that Rodgers would eventually sign.
The contract sets up a dramatic Week 1 matchup as Rodgers and the Steelers are set to face his former team, the New York Jets, on the road.
Rodgers had long been linked with Pittsburgh throughout the offseason. After the Steelers let go of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, speculation intensified. Rodgers visited the team’s facility on March 21 and kept in close contact as he considered his future for more than two months.
The Steelers did not draft a quarterback early in April’s NFL Draft and had been preparing to enter their offseason program with Mason Rudolph at the top of the depth chart.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin played a key role in bringing Rodgers on board. Sources close to the situation say Tomlin respected Rodgers’ need for time and was willing to be patient.
“I wasn’t trying to mislead anyone or keep teams in the dark,” Rodgers said on “The Pat McAfee Show” on April 17. “I’ve been upfront about where my head is at and the personal obligations I’ve had that needed attention.
“I’m staying open to all outcomes. Retirement is still on the table, but for now, my focus has been on my life outside of football. That’s what I’ve communicated clearly. All talks have been straightforward and transparent.”
Rodgers was released by the Jets in March after a reportedly tense meeting with new head coach Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Mougey.
Rodgers had joined the Jets in 2023 after an 18-year career with the Green Bay Packers, where he led the team to a Super Bowl victory in the 2010 season. He missed nearly all of his debut season in New York due to a torn Achilles. Last season, he returned to play every game but had mixed results—throwing for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns, alongside 11 interceptions and a 48.1 QBR, ranking him 25th among 32 starting quarterbacks.
New York’s offense underwhelmed in 2024, finishing 24th in points scored and recording a disappointing 5-12 record.
In Pittsburgh, the team stayed active while Rodgers weighed his decision. They re-signed Mason Rudolph, who had spent the previous season in Tennessee. Despite Rodgers’ uncertainty, the Steelers skipped drafting a quarterback early, eventually taking Ohio State’s Will Howard in the sixth round.
While the team prepped for offseason activities in Pittsburgh, Rodgers trained privately in California. He held a throwing session with newly acquired wide receiver DK Metcalf, whom the Steelers had obtained in a trade with Seattle just before free agency began.
Off the field, Rodgers made headlines attending the Kentucky Derby and various concerts by rapper Mike. At one event, when asked if he’d ever consider playing for the Bears, Rodgers playfully teased his decision.
“No, but I hear there’s a team playing in Chicago sometime soon—maybe I’ll be there for that,” he said with a smile.
The Steelers will indeed visit the Bears in Week 12.
Rodgers was also approached by the New York Giants but talks ended after the team signed Russell Wilson to a one-year deal worth $10.5 million on March 25.
He also held conversations with the Vikings, though Minnesota decided to stick with rookie J.J. McCarthy, their 2024 first-round draft pick.
Following the news of Rodgers joining the Steelers, betting markets responded quickly. Pittsburgh’s odds of winning the AFC North improved from +550 to +500 on ESPN BET, and their playoff odds jumped from +150 to +140.
They also moved from a 2.5-point favorite to a 3-point favorite in their Week 1 game against the Jets.