Mike Tomlin doesn’t like to discuss players not already under contract to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He made an exception Sunday because of the public nature of his team’s pursuit of quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The Steelers head coach admitted to meeting with Rodgers on March 21 at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. But at that gathering, Tomlin said no deadline was given regarding when the Steelers expected an answer from the 41-year-old passer and four-time NFL MVP.
“I didn’t (give him a deadline),” Tomlin said Sunday from the NFL annual meetings at The Breakers resort hotel. “I wanted to know him better, things that he values as a player and as a man and what he might be looking for with his next step.”
Tomlin called the meeting, which lasted for approximately six hours, a “really good day.”
“He and I have known of each other for some time,” Tomlin said. “It was really good to spend time together and get to know each other more intimately. It is free agency. It is a process. I have nothing of significance to add other than that.”
Three weeks into free agency and with the NFL Draft approaching in less than a month, the Steelers are no closer to solving their quarterback conundrum than at the end of the 2024 season. Justin Fields signed with the New York Jets at the outset of free agency, and Russell Wilson joined the New York Giants last week when the Steelers showed virtually no interest in retaining him.
Aside from bringing back Mason Rudolph after a one-year stint in Tennessee, the Steelers have done nothing to fortify the game’s most important position. The only other quarterback on the 90-man offseason roster is reserve/futures signee Skylar Thompson.
“We all would like to have settled circumstances, but this is a process,” Tomlin said. “The acquisition of talent, whether it’s at quarterback or any other position, we spend the bulk of our spring and offseason putting a roster together.”
Tomlin doesn’t think it is imperative to have all quarterbacks under contract at this juncture of the offseason calendar or even by organized team activities in May or minicamp in June.
“Training camp would be the line of demarcation in terms of that discussion,” he said. “The spring is about teaching and learning.”
If Rodgers balks at signing with the Steelers, his rejection wouldn’t necessarily lead the organization to pursue one of the few veterans still on the market such as Joe Flacco.
“I don’t know that we necessarily feel that way,” Tomlin said. “We’re looking at all the people that are available to us.”
That includes the draft class, which experts believe is lacking in top-tier talent. Tomlin spent the past week on the pro day circuit, nothing that recent visits to Notre Dame (Riley Leonard), Ohio State (Will Howard) and Texas (Quinn Ewers) were done with draft-eligible passers in mind. Tomlin already dined with Alabama’s Jalen Milroe ahead of the Crimson Tide quarterback’s pro day. The Steelers already had a top-30 visit with Louisville’s Tyler Shough and have one scheduled with Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart.
“I don’t know if we’re identifying anything as Plan A, Plan B or Plan C,” Tomlin said. “We’re simply looking at the field of people whether it’s free agency or the draft, gathering information and making a decision accordingly.”
Tomlin also touched on team president Art Rooney’s II desire for the Steelers to retain Wilson, who started the final 11 games last season, or Fields, who opened the season as the starter. Fields quickly bolted when the Jets offered a two-year, $40 million package that included $30 million guaranteed. Last week, Wilson joined the Giants on a one-year deal that includes $10.5 million guaranteed.
“I know what we said regarding Russell and Justin,” he said. “It didn’t pan out that way. Such is life in our game and, particularly, in free agency. We’re optimistic about the room we’re constructing.”
The only certainty at quarterback for the Steelers is that Rudolph will figure into the equation as the de facto starter if Rodgers doesn’t sign, or he will be the backup, the role he filled for most of his previous six seasons with the organization.
“His experience in the building certainly helps,” Tomlin said. “It not only helps him, but it helps us. That’s why it doesn’t alarm me (about the turnover) … because of our experience with Mason.”
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at [email protected].
