The Pittsburgh Steelers need to find out who their starting quarterback is going to be for the 2025 season. Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers appear to be the only legitimate options at this point, leaving Pittsburgh with a major decision to make. Initially, Rodgers wasn’t a serious consideration for the Steelers, but with Justin Fields landing a better deal from the New York Jets, their options have narrowed. Now, the team must figure out how to solidify the most important position on the field before heading into the season.
A recent report suggested that Rodgers is seeking a massive contract, possibly in the range of $45 million. Mike Florio initially reported that number, but later clarified that it was an educated guess rather than a confirmed figure. If Rodgers is indeed demanding such a high salary, it could pose a major challenge for the Steelers, who may not want to pay a ton of money to a 41-year-old quarterback. Pittsburgh must carefully evaluate whether making a financial commitment of that magnitude is worth the potential short-term upgrade at quarterback.
Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo provided additional insight into the situation during an appearance on 93.7 The Fan on Thursday. While he didn’t confirm the exact amount Rodgers might seek, he did give his insight into what type of money Rodgers would likely get. The Steelers will need to weigh their options carefully, as investing heavily in Rodgers could limit their ability to address other key areas of the roster. With time ticking away, Pittsburgh’s front office must decide whether to pursue Rodgers or move to their backup plan with Wilson.
"30, like two for 60, maybe you guarantee 35 or 40 something like that," Fittipaldo said. "Maybe see how it goes for the year and maybe have some dead money. That way you can move on after the year if things go wrong."
The Steelers made a massive five-year, $150 million investment in new superstar wide receiver DK Metcalf after pulling off a blockbuster trade to bring him to Pittsburgh. Overnight, their passing attack transformed from a major weakness into a potential powerhouse, with Metcalf joining George Pickens and tight end Pat Freiermuth to form one of the most dangerous receiving corps in the NFL. The Steelers now have all the weapons necessary to compete with the league’s best offenses—except they still don’t know who will be throwing the football.
That uncertainty at quarterback looms large, especially considering how poor the Steelers' offense was in 2023 and 2024. Over the past two seasons, Pittsburgh struggled to move the ball through the air, ranking near the bottom of the league in key passing metrics. Now, with an elite group of pass-catchers, the Steelers are just one piece away from fielding one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL. Whether that piece is Wilson, Rodgers, or someone else remains to be seen, but Pittsburgh must figure it out soon if they want to maximize their investment in Metcalf and take full advantage of their loaded receiving corps.
Steelers Seem To Be Waiting On Aaron Rodgers
The Steelers could have easily secured a new deal with Wilson, who made it clear he wanted to return in 2025. However, Pittsburgh seems intent on exploring whether Rodgers is the better option. The organization appears to believe that an elite quarterback is the missing piece to making them a true Super Bowl contender once again.
Rodgers, despite coming off a serious injury, showed noticeable improvement as the season progressed. His late-season performance has convinced the Steelers that he might be the answer for 2025, and they appear willing to invest a significant amount of money to bring him in. Now, all that’s left is waiting on Rodgers to make his decision. Steeler Nation is starting to get impatient but Rodgers appears to be in no rush.
