At long last, the Cincinnati Bengals' AFC North has landed its starting quarterback for the upcoming 2025 NFL season.
Per multiple reports, Aaron Rodgers will sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers leading up to the team's mandatory minicamp next week.
Renegade A-Rod: Four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers informed the #Steelers he’ll fly to Pittsburgh on Friday and sign before next week’s minicamp, sources tell The Insiders.
Finally, a done deal: Rodgers, 41, will play his 21st NFL season in black and gold. pic.twitter.com/zuDXWrSDG0— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 5, 2025
Rodgers will be the Steelers' third Week 1 starter in as many years and the fourth Pittsburgh QB to start against Cincinnati since 2023. The Bengals never faced the four-time MVP during his two years with the New York Jets, but they did cross paths four times when playing the Green Bay Packers. He was 2-2 in those matchups.
The next time Rodgers starts in Cincinnati will be a new experience for both sides.
Aaron Rodgers to face Bengals in primetime for the first time ever
For the first time in his career, Rodgers will play against the Bengals at night when the Steelers come to Cincinnati for "Thursday Night Football" in Week 7 on Oct. 16.
It's also the lone primetime game the Bengals will host at Paycor Stadium this year barring the league flexing later home games to nighttime slots. Cincinnati is scheduled to play three night games on the road, including another TNF game against the Baltimore Ravens.
"Playing in Baltimore for the fourth straight primetime year isn't ideal," Joe Burrow said following the schedule release. "Maybe we could get one of those in Cincinnati next year, please?"
The last time Rodgers came to Cincinnati was a wild 2021 afternoon in which his Packers won an overtime thriller, 25-22, featuring a combined five missed field goals from Mason Crosby and Evan McPherson. The last time Pittsburgh played in Cincinnati under the lights was the year prior when Ryan Finley led an upset victory on "Monday Night Football."
Rodgers is a career 13-6 on TNF and won both of his starts on Thursday night with the Jets. The Bengals have only played the Steelers twice on Thursday night, winning in 1995 and losing in 2008.
Cincinnati is one of 10 teams Rodgers has yet to face at night. He'll cross them off this October.
