Why Aaron Rodgers wouldn't work in Pittsburgh
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The Steelers can avoid disaster by staying away from Rodgers. Photo: Cooper Neill/Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been swept into the sweepstakes for four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers — but no one in Pittsburgh seems excited about it.
Why it matters: In Pittsburgh, quarterback isn't just a position — it's a legacy. The Steelers' six Super Bowl titles, and the region's reputation as a cradle for Hall of Famers, have been built on franchise QBs.
- But with no immediate answer under center, the search may be careening toward a star with more baggage than recent wins.
Driving the news: Rodgers visited the Steelers' practice facility in the South Side 10 days ago, raising speculation that a deal with the team was near, but nothing has been announced.
Context: Ever since two-time Super Bowl champ Ben Roethlisberger retired in 2022, the team has failed to field a QB that has provided acceptable consistency.
Catch up quickly: The 2022 season saw Mitch Trubisky start, but he was benched for rookie first-round pick Kenny Pickett.
- Pickett, a standout at the University of Pittsburgh, was named QB1 the following season but struggled with injuries.
- Trubisky stepped in for Pickett but was eventually benched for Mason Rudolph late in the year.
- All those quarterbacks left the team in 2024, with Justin Fields starting until Russell Wilson returned from injury.
Fields and Wilson departed this offseason, while backup Skylar Thompson was signed and Rudolph returned, possibly starting if the Steelers don't sign Rodgers and make a big trade.
State of play: Last month, reports circulated that Rodgers might also be considering the Vikings, but the continuous flow of updates regarding his next move is exhausting, cryptic, and nearly impossible to track in real time.
What they're saying: Local pundits and Steelers Nation abhor adding Rodgers.
- Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 FM said after reports that Rodgers was also considering retirement, "the Steelers need to end this and tell Rodgers no thank you."
- "My 81-year-old father said that if Aaron Rodgers comes to the Steelers, he will ruin the heart and soul of the team and it will never be the same again," a fan told Pro Football Talk last week.
- Even Steelers stalwart defensive lineman Cam Heyward initially expressed skepticism towards Rodgers, saying on March 18: "Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler, or you don't. It's that simple. That's the pitch," before walking those comments back a week later.
Between the lines: Heyward's remarks hit home for diehards. The Steelers' legacy — as rich as any in the NFL — has been defined by players who buy into the team's culture. That starts with drafting and developing quarterbacks.
- The most successful QBs in franchise history — Roethlisberger, Terry Bradshaw, Kordell Stewart, and Neil O'Donnell — were all homegrown.
💭 Ryan's thought bubble: If the Steelers don't find a good starter this season, that could set them up well for a high draft pick in 2026, which is loaded with talented quarterbacks.
- Pittsburgh hosts the 2026 NFL Draft, so the scene could be amazing as hundreds of thousands of Steelers fans cheer for the next franchise QB.
What's next: Rumors are circling that Rodgers could announce his decision at podcaster and Pittsburgh native Pat McAfee's sold-out show at PPG Paints Arena on April 9.