Whereas it is no secret that future Corridor of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers visited the Pittsburgh Steelers on March 21, he solely officially signed a one-year contract to affix the membership over this previous weekend.
Some questioned all through the method if folks throughout the Steelers have been fearful that the usually enigmatic Rodgers may basically depart the franchise on the altar. For a chunk printed on Monday, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports activities Illustrated defined why Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith by no means misplaced confidence that Rodgers can be the membership’s 2025 Week 1 QB1.
“The edges resolved to remain in contact,” Breer wrote about what occurred between Rodgers and the Steelers following March 21. “There weren’t commonly scheduled check-ins, however Rodgers would name Tomlin and Smith each every so often, which colours why the Steelers have been by no means actually involved that Rodgers would again out on them.”
The Steelers completing voluntary springtime exercises with longtime backup Mason Rudolph serving as their non permanent starter indicated that normal supervisor Omar Khan wasn’t but performed including to Pittsburgh’s quarterback room. It was reported on June 6 that Rodgers and Smith had “exchanged concepts” relating to Pittsburgh’s offense for the upcoming season “over the previous few weeks.”
Additionally on Friday, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter claimed that the Steelers “have been in on Matthew Stafford and could not get” a commerce performed with the Los Angeles Rams for Stafford’s companies earlier this yr. Schefter added that Pittsburgh additionally “tried to re-sign Justin Fields” earlier than Fields left the Steelers to signal with the New York Jets in free company.
Fields went 4-2 as Pittsburgh’s starter final season earlier than Tomlin turned to veteran Russell Wilson from Week 7 via the group’s wild-card playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Wilson spent the marketing campaign’s first six weeks recovering from a lingering calf downside.
“The Steelers touched base with the Rams on Stafford however by no means believed Stafford would sign off on leaving Los Angeles,” Breer shared. “…In the meantime, [the Steelers] stayed in contact with Fields’ camp, because the Jets got here with a proposal of $20M per yr and the promise of being their undisputed starter. By then, the Steelers have been in discussions with Rodgers, who’d additionally drawn curiosity from the Giants.”
Breer famous that the Steelers and Rodgers constructed up loads of “belief” all through the offseason up till the 41-year-old informed the membership final week that he would signal his contract in time to report for Pittsburgh’s obligatory minicamp that is scheduled to run from Tuesday via Thursday.
Rodgers is predicted to talk with reporters after Tuesday’s minicamp apply, so maybe he’ll give extra info at the moment about when he realized he needed to play for the Steelers via at the very least January 2026.
