Aaron Rodgers has officially signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and now we know exactly what his new deal looks like, and just how much money he left on the table by no longer being a member of the New York Jets.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Saturday that Rodgers signed a one-year, $13.65 million contract with Pittsburgh that includes $10 million guaranteed and incentives that could push the total to $19.5 million.
It’s a massive pay cut from what he was due in New York, where, as noted by ESPN’s Rich Cimini, Rodgers was set to earn $37.5 million in 2025 before being released.
Rodgers publicly insisted money wasn’t a priority, but the contrast is notable. The Jets cut ties with the future Hall of Famer earlier this offseason, and now his new deal puts a very real dollar amount on what his release ultimately cost him.
Aaron Rodgers missed out on plenty of NY Jets money
Rodgers’ new deal is proof that he was willing to put his money where his mouth is. Back in April, the four-time MVP said on The Pat McAfee Show he was open to signing for as little as $10 million, insisting money wouldn’t be a sticking point in his next destination.
That’s effectively what happened. While his Steelers contract includes incentives that could raise the total to nearly $20 million, the guaranteed money is nearly a third of what he was due to earn in New York.
That makes the Jets’ decision to cut Rodgers all the more financially significant. By designating him a post-June 1 cut, the Jets absorbed $14 million in dead cap this year and will eat another $35 million in 2026.
Still, that’s a better outcome than waiting another season and facing up to $42 million in dead cap charges stretching into 2027. Releasing him when they did allowed the Jets to limit long-term damage while starting fresh with a new regime, a new quarterback, and a new direction.
Rodgers, meanwhile, joins a Steelers team that didn’t exactly roll out the red carpet for him. According to Schefter, Rodgers was not Pittsburgh’s top choice.
The Steelers explored a potential trade for Matthew Stafford before that fell apart, and they also tried to re-sign Justin Fields, who ultimately chose the Jets for a better opportunity. Rodgers only became the Steelers’ fallback after both those options fizzled out.
It’s also worth noting that while Rodgers started all 17 games in 2024, he often looked like a shell of his former self. He threw 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions with a career-worst 6.7 yards per attempt and a modest 63% completion rate.
Combine that with multiple lingering injuries, and it’s clear Rodgers is no longer the elite quarterback he once was, which makes his dramatic pay cut a little easier to understand.
Rodgers might not care about the money — at least publicly — but the numbers don’t lie. He went from being a $75 million quarterback in New York to a $10 million flier in Pittsburgh.
The Jets moved on when it was time. And Rodgers? Well, he’s still trying to prove there’s something left to salvage.
