Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is a free agent for the first time in his 20-year NFL career. And even though he has an incredibly short list of teams interested in his services for 2025, the four-time NFL MVP is taking his sweet time in making a decision.
That list, of course, currently sits at one. The Pittsburgh Steelers have reportedly been courting the future Pro Football Hall of Famer for weeks. Rodgers even met with team coaches and front office officials at the team complex.
And as the NFL Draft and offseason programs get closer and closer, there appears to be some angst among current Steelers players.
Former Green Bay Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers Catches Blame for the Pittsburgh Steelers Internal Issues
A few weeks ago, Steelers star Cam Heyward made waves in NFL circles when he said of Rodgers taking his time to sign a contract, “Hey, you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don’t. I don’t need to make more of a pitch than that.”
And while Heyward tried to walk that comment back as the team continued its pursuit of the future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback, NFL insider Tom Pelissero said that his view is shared by many players on the Steelers’ roster. He told Rich Eisen “There are other people certainly in the organization, in the locker room, who are just going, ‘What are we doing?’ We’re back for offseason workouts in ten days. We’re coming up on the draft. What is the plan? At a time when, if you’re a player, you feel like we can win.”
One of these players appears to be Wisconsin Badgers legend TJ Watt, who recently made waves on social media by posting a picture of himself throwing up the peace sign. This post, to many, indicated that he is not happy with his current contract extension negotiations and the team allowing Rodgers to drag his feet in regard to joining the team.
Noah Strackbein, who covers Pittsburgh for Sports Illustrated, has placed the blame for the players’ angst, and specifically Watt’s contract drama, on the former Packers quarterback. “Things are becoming more difficult for the Steelers by the day,” Strackbein wrote, “and it all seems to be because of Aaron Rodgers.”
Does Former Green Bay Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers Deserve Blame for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Issues?
Rodgers has certainly become a polarizing figure over the past few years. From his feud with the Packers front office, to his COVID controversy, to his potential Vice Presidential run, to his appearances on the Pat McAfee Show, he certainly has made more than his fair share of negative headlines.
While he may be blamed for some of the things mentioned above, it is hard to say that the way Pittsburgh has chosen to handle their quarterback room is his fault. Any attempt to do so is simply gaslighting. After all, Rodgers is not even on the team.
The fact of the matter is that the Steelers had two starting caliber quarterbacks on their roster in 2024 in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Rodgers did not force Pittsburgh to let both of them walk in free agency. They chose that course on their own. In other words, the organization itself put themselves in this position.
Instead of pursuing a younger veteran quarterback while they were available, the Steelers put all their eggs in Rodgers’ basket.
Additionally, Rodgers is 41 years old. It is no small thing to put ones body through the pains and rigors an NFL season requires, but it is an even greater thing when one has played as long as the former Packers quarterback.
And, if everyone is honest with themselves, few players have earned the right to take their time with this decision than Rodgers. He has accomplished everything there is to accomplish in the NFL and has nothing left to prove.
While the situation is certainly frustrating, and players have every right to want answers, it is not Rodgers’ fault that Pittsburgh put themselves in a position to have to wait.
