Steelers' Art Rooney II Called Out For Monumental Mistake In Aaron Rodgers Saga

The Pittsburgh Steelers have basically wagered their entire 2025 season on bringing in Aaron Rodgers. The delay in Rodgers making his decision has sparked some outrage from Steelers media and fans, but Rodgers remains unfazed. He’s going to announce his decision whenever he sees fit, and that has upset many, including Team President Art Rooney II. On Tuesday, Rooney spoke to the media and seemed to try to put pressure on Rodgers with his comments, stating they aren’t going to wait forever but remaining optimistic about Rodgers agreeing to a one-year deal to join the Steelers for 2025.

Rooney’s approach has drawn criticism, with some believing his comments could backfire rather than push Rodgers toward signing. The future Hall of Fame quarterback has never responded well to outside pressure, and publicly trying to force his hand may only make him more hesitant. The Steelers have plenty of leverage in this situation, but their entire offseason strategy hinges on Rodgers joining the team. If he walks away, Pittsburgh will be left scrambling for a backup plan, and Rooney’s remarks may have only made things more difficult in the eyes of one NFL insider.

Aditi Kinkhabwala joined 93.7 The Fan on Wednesday to call out Rooney for what she believes was a massive mistake. She questioned why the Steelers would try to pressure a quarterback who has always operated on his own terms and suggested that Rooney’s comments could have made Rodgers even more reluctant to commit. Kinkhabwala made it clear that she doesn’t think this was the right approach, and now, the Steelers may have to face the consequences.

"It’s definitely not how I would have played it by any means," Kinkhabwala said. "I mean, if [Rooney] is trying to put pressure on Aaron Rodgers, which is what we must assume, why else would you say that?"

Rodgers has always been sensitive about how others handle his business. He doesn’t like people running with speculation, often calling out insiders for getting things wrong and taking pride in keeping his decisions tightly controlled. He thrives on being unpredictable, making it clear that no one truly knows what he’s thinking until he decides to share it himself.

That’s exactly why Kinkhabwala believes Rooney’s decision to apply pressure was a mistake. Trying to publicly push Rodgers into making a decision could easily backfire, as he’s never been one to respond well to outside influence. Instead of speeding up the process, Rooney may have only given Rodgers another reason to take his time—or even reconsider his options entirely in the mind of Kinkhabwala.

"You wonder, why would that work when that has never worked with Aaron Rodgers?" Kinkhabwala said.

The Steelers have built their entire 2025 offseason around the expectation that Rodgers will be their starting quarterback. Reports suggest that several key figures within the organization have grown tired of the ongoing saga and are eager for Rodgers to make his commitment official. They want him to come in, buy into the system, and start building chemistry with his new teammates.

Steelers Left In Limbo Waiting For Aaron Rodgers

However, the delay has only fueled frustration within the team and its fan base. Every passing day without a decision leaves Pittsburgh in limbo, unable to fully move forward with their plans. While the Steelers remain hopeful, the waiting game is wearing thin, and patience is starting to run out. Some are now worried that Rooney’s comments may have only made things worse, potentially pushing Rodgers further away instead of drawing him in. 

However, others feel that this concern is an overreaction, as Rooney’s remarks were relatively tame and hardly the type of public pressure that would drive a quarterback of Rodgers’ stature away. Ultimately, the Steelers are still in wait-and-see mode, hoping that Rodgers’ decision aligns with their plans—because if it doesn’t, they’ll have to scramble for a backup option sooner rather than later.