Aaron Rodgers has touched down in Pittsburgh as his drawn-out NFL limbo appears to have finally come to an end.
The quarterback is set to play his 21st season in the NFL with the Steelers after passing his physical and signing a one-year deal with the franchise – three months from his New York Jets split.
The 41-year-old made it official today after arriving at the Steelers’ facilities Saturday to sign his contract, which is worth $13.65million, including $10million guaranteed, according to Adam Schefter.
The deal is said to have a maximum value of $19.5m, including $5.85m worth of playtime and team performance incentives.
The veteran had been agonizing over his NFL future for months after being released by the Jets in March, with the option of retirement not entirely off the table.
Yet, Rodgers was captured arriving at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex Saturday morning, where he was ushered into the building.
Aaron Rodgers has touched down in Pittsburgh as his drawn-out NFL limbo comes to an end
The quarterback is set to sign a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, pending a medical
The veteran was captured entering the Steelers’ facilities on Saturday morning
The former Super Bowl winner cut a laid back figure in a grey hoodie, black shorts and cap as he approached the door with his wired headphones still in.
Now, the four-time MVP will be able to get to work with the Steelers’ offense in time for Pittsburgh’s first game of the season on September 7 when he is expected to make his debut – against the Jets, no less.
To add to the fascinating narrative surrounding that Week 1 fixture, New York has also moved on with a new quarterback of its own in Justin Fields – who turned down a new contract in Pittsburgh and entered free agency himself at the end of last season.
Rodgers is expected to step in as the Steelers’ starter for the 2025 campaign ahead of Mason Rudolph and Will Howard, who was selected in the sixth round of the NFL Draft in April.
However, not everyone in the Steel City seems happy with the turn of events in the franchise’s quarterback room.
Many Steelers fans took to social media to slam the team over the move, while sports analyst Skip Bayless launched into a lengthy rant in a five-minute clip after the news broke.
‘I can’t believe the Pittsburgh Bleeping Steelers just signed a washed-up, 41-year old, finger pointing, blame deflecting DIVA,’ the former FOX star captioned the video.
Rodgers is best known for the 18 seasons he spent with the Green Bay Packers, where he won the Super Bowl in 2011.
He had been agonizing over his NFL future for months after being released by the Jets
The 41-year-old is now expected to join the Steelers’ offense ahead of the 2025 season
Rodgers is expected to be names start over Mason Rudolph (right) and Will Howard (left)
However, the four-time MVP failed to hit his stride in a miserable two-year tenure with the Jets and eventually split with the team on March 12.
After leaving New York, Rodgers had been linked with city rivals the Giants and the Minnesota Vikings as well as the Steelers.
It quickly became clear that Pittsburgh was the only realistic option on the table for him, before he jetted to Pennsylvania for talks with Mike Tomlin.
The Steelers coach later revealed they discussed ‘things that he values as a player and a man and what he might be looking for with his next stop.’
‘It’s been reported that he spent a day with us, and it was a really good day,’ Tomlin said.
‘I really just wanted to spend more time just getting to know him better.’
Despite that meeting reportedly being held in early March, Rodgers still took significant time to weigh up whether he should play on in the NFL for at least another year or hang up his cleats.
Last month he revealed that tragedy in his personal life, with multiple members of his inner circle said to be battling cancer, had forced him to put his decision on hold.
‘I’ve been in the weeds with these people who are close to me that have cancer,’ he told Joe Rogan on his podcast.
Rodgers did not specify who in his inner circle was battling cancer, or how many had been stricken with the disease.
