The Aaron Rodgers waiting game continues. After getting released by the New York Jets following a dismal 5-12 season, the 41-year-old quarterback is still deciding if he will play in 2025 or call it a career.
Rodgers met with Pittsburgh Steelers coaches at the team’s practice facility last week as they search for a new starting signal-caller. Justin Fields departed for the Jets on a two-year deal while Russell Wilson just inked a one-year contract with the New York Giants, leaving Pittsburgh with limited options.
The Steelers appear to be in Rodgers-or-bust mode. Pittsburgh brought back Mason Rudolph and have Skylar Thompson on the roster, but that combination won’t satisfy a franchise with perennial playoff aspirations.
Rodgers did throw for nearly 4,000 yards and 28 touchdowns last season, but those numbers require context. He accumulated the second-most pass attempts in 2024 while the Jets played from behind in nearly every game. Additionally, Rodgers showed considerably less mobility returning from Achilles surgery, absorbed 40 sacks, and posted the lowest yards gained per pass attempt (6.7) since becoming a full-time starter.
With the Steelers seemingly all-in on Rodgers, new comments from the Minnesota Vikings general manager could significantly impact Pittsburgh’s pursuit.
Minnesota Vikings haven’t closed door on bringing in Aaron Rodgers
It was previously reported the Vikings had closed the door on signing Rodgers, preferring to move forward with 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy. However, recent statements from Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah have raised eyebrows.
The Athletic’s Alec Lewis reports that Adofo-Mensah wouldn’t fully eliminate the Rodgers possibility while speaking to media on Wednesday.
“For me to sit here and say that anything is 100 percent forever, that’s not the job,” Adofo-Mensah said. “We’re responding to scenarios and different information as it comes. Things can change.”
Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah says the Vikings are comfortable with the QB room right now, but wouldn’t say that he’d 100% close the door on Aaron Rodgers depending on scenarios.
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) March 26, 2025
The GM revealed that head coach Kevin O’Connell has had multiple conversations with Rodgers over the past few weeks and that the front office and coaching staff have been “intrigued” about the possibility of adding the four-time NFL MVP.
“It’s a new thing to talk about a player of that caliber. I’m always somebody who wants to learn and grow myself, so being involved in those dialogues was really special,” Adofo-Mensah told The Athletic.
If the Vikings ultimately make an offer to Rodgers and he accepts, that would leave the Steelers in dire straits regarding their quarterback situation for 2025. Should that scenario unfold, Pittsburgh could explore trading for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, who is currently slated to back up second-year QB Michael Penix Jr.
