The Pittsburgh Steelers have been in the national spotlight constantly due to the organization's connection to Aaron Rodgers. He continues to decide on his future, whether that is to play for the Steelers, retire, or something different entirely. Pittsburgh appears to be the only logical option for the veteran quarterback outside of retirement, especially after Russell Wilson recently signed with the New York Giants. Retirement is absolutely on the table for Rodgers, but that doesn't seem like a real possibility after the quarterback visited the Steelers' facility and met with the coaching staff over an extended period of time on Friday.
Rodgers is known for the dramatics, and although the only other team that was interested in him signed a quarterback this week - it doesn't mean he will be inking a deal with Pittsburgh anytime soon. There is no known timeline for a decision from Rodgers, but many fans are fairly optimistic that the quarterback will be wearing the black and gold during the 2025 season. A big reason for this was reports that his visit in Pittsburgh went well, which insider Josina Anderson provided more details on via a post on X.
"I'm told that when Aaron Rodgers met with Steelers brass and Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith during Rodgers' visit -- that the conversation was already 'beyond the pitch' and really more about football," Anderson wrote. "Smith and Rodgers watched film together and chatted about their thoughts. From Pittsburgh's viewpoint, I heard they walked away that day feeling really good about the vibe of the meeting, per a league source."
This is a very important detail about the visit between Rodgers and the Steelers. This is likely the quarterback's last stop in his NFL career, and he wants to go out with a bang in order to make everyone forget about his horrendous time with the New York Jets. A healthy relationship with Arthur Smith was always going to be a vital component of the four-time MVP signing with the Steelers.
Rodgers is notorious for calling out his coaches publicly throughout his illustrious career. It happened when he was with the Green Bay Packers, and many believe he had something to do with the firing of Robert Saleh in the middle of the 2024 season for New York. He and Smith getting along and seeing eye-to-eye philosophically is going to be something that will allow the offense to be successful.
Both Rodgers and Smith need one another. This is likely Rodgers' last hoorah as an NFL quarterback, whether his stint in Pittsburgh will be one or two years. He cares about his legacy, and he would probably want to finish his career on a high note. Smith wants to be a head coach again, and the only chance he has of doing that is by leading a successful offensive attack. Both parties can help accomplish what the other wants, so this will be a pivotal relationship to keep an eye on moving forward.
Steelers Were Very Discreet About Meeting With Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers was in Pittsburgh's facility for about six hours on Friday, and he met with the coaching staff and ownership throughout that time. It has been reported that none of the conversations were about money, but the two sides just wanted to pick one another's brains about football.
Anderson shared in the same post on X that the organization was very discreet about Rodgers coming in.
"Also interesting how Steelers brass pulled the Rodgers visit off so discreetly initially -- calling a team meeting (rounding everyone up and away) that day," Anderson wrote.
The visit was kept under wraps until reports emerged that Rodgers was in the building. However, no scheduled visit was announced in the days leading up to the event. Rodgers left without a deal, but that was before the Giants locked up their quarterback position. It should only be a matter of time before Rodgers decides to sign a contract with the Steelers, but only he knows when that time will be.
